The annual Syracuse University Rising: Stop Sexual and Relationship Violence candlelight vigil event will take place at Hendricks Chapel on Friday at 6 p.m.

This will be the third year the SU community will rally together to raise awareness for sexual and relationship violence while supporting and remembering victims. The event was established in 2013 as SU’s response to One Billion Rising, a nationwide mass action to end violence against women.

SU Rising will feature remarks by members of SU organizations, including Students Advocating for Sexual Safety and Empowerment, A Men’s Issue and the Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Team at the Counseling Center. Additionally, SU Zinda will perform a dance at the event and there will be a screening of SU’s #NotAskingForIt video. The event will conclude with a candlelight vigil and moment of silence on the chapel steps.

Tiffany Steinwert, dean of Hendricks Chapel, will provide the welcome for the vigil and rally. Steinwert said in a Feb. 9 SU News release that Hendricks is honored to host the event and take a stand against sexual and relationship violence.

“SU Rising connects us to the global community in this common call to action,” Steinwert said in the release.

Tula Goenka, S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications professor and faculty adviser of SASSE, said she is looking forward to the event as a chance for a community regrouping after the realignment of services for victims of sexual assault and relationship violence. Goenka said though the university has a long-standing affirmative consent policy, the event is meant to shed light on issues surrounding it while educating and supporting students.

“I don’t want to say that we’re ahead of the game, but these are issues that have been and continue to be very obviously important to SU,” Goenka said.

As issues of sexual assault on college campuses have received a lot of national attention in the past few months, Goenka said she encourages students to attend SU Rising to continue the discussion.

“To stand there and light a candle for a few minutes may not seem like a big deal, but it’s a statement,” Goenka said. “It says that we are members of this campus that support you and stand with you.”

Published on February 12, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Lydia: lawilson@syr.edu