Nutrition major Jada Aurellia Chaplin, along with Ryan Harman, the Associated Students of Central Washington University (ASCWU) director for governmental affairs, led a protest to fight against sexual assault and rape culture. The march, led by Aurellia Chaplin, started with the following words:

Aurellia Chaplin (AC): “My body!”

Crowd (C): “My choice!”

AC: “What do we want?”

C: “Safe streets.”

AC: “When do we want them?”

C: “Now!”

Students identifying as survivors of sexual harassment spoke about their experiences at the protest on campus on April 29, also known as International Denim Day, where people wear jeans in protest and to support survivors of sexual violence. The protest was begun on the SURC West Patio. The protest, titled Show Up, Speak Out, was timed with the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“When I first moved here, I stepped into the unknown, being a first-year, first-generation independent student, simply adapting to the campus environment,” Aurellia Chaplin said in her speech. “But this difficult transition became more and more terrifying, from my close brother’s death to being assaulted in my first quarter of college.”

“This happened here on campus, in a place where I and everyone else should always be and feel safe. The aftermath of the assault was incredibly isolating,” Aurellia Chaplin continued. “Instead of finding support, I faced bullying online and in person, as to what happened to me in the situation.”

Aurellia Chaplin was one of three keynote speakers at the protest, which was hosted by the Office of Health Promotion (OHP). OHP Assistant Director Katie Parks and Confidential Advocate Claire Stanford were the other two keynote speakers.

“Survivors deserve better”

Parks began the opening remarks by sharing her thoughts about how the world has treated sexual assault victims over the last few months.

“Our frustration with systems that are supposed to deliver justice is valid. Survivors deserve better,” Parks said. “Survivors deserve justice. Survivors deserve support. Survivors deserve love. Survivors deserve peace. Survivors deserve healing. We thank you for adding your voice to the chorus of those demanding change together. We are a powerful force.”

As a Prevention, Advocacy, Training and Healing (PATH) advocate, Stanford works with students to explore their preferred method of recovering from interpersonal violence. PATH is a confidential resource that allows students to talk about their experiences and receive help with potential next steps.

“Today is not about putting pressure on anyone to share their stories, but it’s about standing together visibly and collectively to say that violence and harm are not acceptable in our community or on campus,” Stanford said in her speech.

Protest attendance

The purpose of the protest was to let survivors of sexual assault know that they have allies who care and want to help them.

The Observer counted a total of 14 protesters. As part of the OHF, Parks saw this small number of attendees as an opportunity for her department to better focus on creating a network of survivors.

“Nobody, of course, has to self-identify themselves as a survivor. Nobody has to wear a sign that identifies them in that way,” Parks said. “Leaning on the network of people who care about this issue and who are impacted by this issue, I think that will continue to grow this event in the future.”

Although few people showed up, those who did shouted as loudly as possible while marching, as noted by Public Policy major Rachel Haley.

“There’s always power in numbers, but I think the people that did show up really expressed a certain amount of care and appreciation and honoring of the people that they were standing up for,” Haley said. “I’m glad that this is a tradition and I’m looking forward to next year’s.”

March around campus

After the keynote speeches ended, the protesters marched around campus, starting at the SURC West Patio, then walking down University Way to Wildcat Way. Next, they made a loop around the construction of the new university building and headed back to the SURC West Patio.

Here are the quotes that Aurellia Chaplin and the crowd of protesters used as their chants during their march:

AC: “Hey! (Hey!) Ho! (Ho!)”

C: “Sexual violence has to go!”

AC: “Combat and resist!”

C: “Sexist Violence!”

AC: “Survivors’ voices are here to stay!”

C: “Listen to what we have to say!”

AC: “Administration, you can’t hide!”

C: “We can see your sexist side!”

AC: “Whatever we wear, wherever we go!”

C: “Yes means yes, and no means no!”

AC: “Hey hey, ho ho, the patriarchy has got to go!”

C: “Hey hey, ho ho, rape culture has got to go!”

AC: “Stop the violence, no more silence!”

C: “We fight back!”

AC: “However we dress–wherever we go!”

C: “Yes means yes and no means no!”

The event concluded with the attendees gathering together to enjoy free light refreshments on the tables by the Central Marketplace on the first floor of the SURC.

Important contact information

CWU is a Title IX institution. Any accommodation requests can go to Disability Services at [email protected]. Survivors of sexual assault can also visit the OHP at SURC Room 256 or email them at [email protected].

However, the OHP staff are mandatory reporters, so if students seek a truly confidential resource, they can contact PATH at 509-963-1745 or [email protected], or they can visit the PATH office at Bouillon Hall Room 203.