Samford University was one of several organizations participating in an April 16 event at Birmingham’s Railroad Park to encourage college students to help end domestic and sexual violence on college campuses. The event, Loud & Clear, featured two-time National Poetry Slam champion Guante and student leaders who spoke out about the need to end sexual violence in Birmingham.
Local schools Samford University, University of Montevallo, Miles College, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham-Southern College were joined by several nonprofit organizations including the Crisis Center Inc., Rape Response, Safehouse and the YWCA Central Alabama to host the event. This was the first year for Loud & Clear to take place.
“None of us can do this alone,” said Allison Dearing, campus coordinator for the Crisis Center Inc. She said student involvement is vital to raising awareness and ultimately ending sexual assault and domestic violence on college campuses.
Members of Samford University’s Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc. hosted a table and provided students with information and resources to start conversation about ending sexual misconduct on Samford’s campus.
Attendees also had the opportunity to enter raffles, win prizes and participate in games and other activities.
Organizers said there are already plans in place for another Loud & Clear event next year.
Loud & Clear is one of several initiatives on the Samford campus related to domestic and sexual violence, including the student-coordinated It’s on Us campaign. Samford also is part of a collaborative U.S. Department of Justice grant to promote awareness on campus about domestic and sexual violence.
Bailey Fuqua is a journalism and mass communication major and a news and feature writer in the Office of Marketing and Communication.