In a powerful display of solidarity, students from various Pittsburgh universities took to the streets on Sunday, September 15, 2024, to raise awareness about sexual violence and support survivors. The fourth annual “Pittsburgh Universities Believe Survivors March” drew approximately 50 participants, who donned teal t-shirts and carried signs as they marched from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper Quad to the University of Pittsburgh’s William Pitt Union.

A unified voice for survivors

The air was filled with chants of “We see you! We hear you! We believe you!” as marchers made their way down Fifth Avenue. The event, organized by representatives from participating universities, aimed to highlight the importance of supporting survivors and preventing sexual violence on college campuses.

Dev Hayostek, lead prevention educator for Prevention at Pitt, emphasized the collaborative nature of the march. “It comes together relatively quickly because we all pitch in our resources,” Hayostek told Pitt News, noting the involvement of community partners like Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) and the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

Personal stories and empowerment

The march provided a platform for survivors to share their experiences and inspire others. Sarah Durish, a junior at Carlow University and president of the Peer Educator group at Project SAFE, spoke about her journey from domestic violence survivor to advocate.

“I’ve been able to turn such a horrible experience into a beautiful story of hope and healing,” Durish told Pitt News, encouraging attendees to support survivors and help end the cycle of violence actively.

Timing and impact

The march coincided with Pitt’s first-ever Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month, strategically scheduled during the “red zone” – the period from the start of the semester to Thanksgiving break when over half of college sexual assaults occur.

Kelisa Hysenbegasi, a graduate student and prevention educator at Pitt, stressed the importance of such events in raising awareness and showing community support for survivors.

“There are people who care,” Hysenbegasi said. “There are people who believe you because so many survivors have experiences where they’re not believed, and that makes it really hard to go forward and get help. It makes it hard to heal.”

Resources and support

The march concluded at the William Pitt Union, where organizations like Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), Prevention at Pitt, the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, and the University counseling center offered resources for survivors. Kelsey Leigh, PAAR’s Director of External Affairs and Strategic Leadership, highlighted the free and confidential services available to students and community members.

Leigh emphasized the power of showing up and standing in solidarity with survivors. “Your presence, showing up — this is what matters,” she told the gathered crowd, underscoring the impact of community support in the movement against sexual violence.

As universities continue to grapple with the issue of campus sexual assault, events like the “Pittsburgh Universities Believe Survivors March” serve as a reminder of the ongoing need for awareness, prevention, and support for survivors in the college community.

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This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.