SlutWalk returns to CMU April 23

Midland junior Sadie Quinlan, left, speaks to the members of the Organization of Women Leaders Sunday night about plans for the upcoming SlutWalk, an event to spread awareness on behalf of sexual assault victims, Jan. 20 at the Down Under Food Court in the Bovee University Center. (File Photo by Taylor Ballek/ Staff Photographer)

SlutWalk is marching back to campus to raise awareness for sexual assault and end victim blaming.

Central Michigan University’s Organization of Women Leaders will bring SlutWalk, a march from one end of the campus to the other, to CMU at 2 p.m. April 13.

OWL member and St. Claire Shores sophomore Cori Jones will be in attendance to try to raise awareness about sexual assault issues out of the public eye.

“Nobody really knows the effects that victims are put through,” Jones said. “Victim blaming should not be the way to prevent rape, but the focus should rather be on the perpetrators. You don’t have to be a radical stereotypical feminist to be part of the SlutWalk, (you) just have to believe in supporting survivors.”

In order to spread the word about SlutWalk, OWL has scheduled events each month as a prelude to the event. For instance, a screening of “The Invisible War,” a documentary about sexual assault in the military, was shown last month.

OWL will also host a SlutWalk FAQ session with several panelists. Students and community members can come to this public forum at 7 p.m. on March 26 to learn more about the SlutWalk, discuss concerns and have questions answered.

“We already have Steve Thompson (from SAPA) confirmed as a panelist and are hoping to confirm many more,” Mio senior and OWL member Katelyn Blair said. “We want people to fully understand the concept of the SlutWalk and to have opportunities to hear us out before they make a decision because of what it is called.”

The SlutWalk protest marches began in Canada and have spread worldwide in a short time span.

In April 2011, a Toronto police officer, Constable Michael Sanguinetti, was giving a talk on health and safety to students at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto when he made a shocking remark.

The officer said women should not dress like “sluts” in order to avoid becoming a victim of sexual assault. Little did this officer know at the time, but the comment catalyzed the entire movement.

While all are welcome to attend, the marches usually consist of young women, who often dress like “sluts” to make a point.