This month, LLCC is partnering with Sojourn Shelter & Services, Crisis Center Foundation and the national #Every1KnowsSome1 campaign, which emphasizes that everyone knows someone affected by domestic violence, whether they realize it or not.

Domestic violence affects people from all walks of life, regardless of gender, orientation, socioeconomic status, age, race or nationality. High rates of domestic violence are not private, individual problems; they require community solutions and systems change.

We all have a part in stopping it. The first step is recognizing what domestic violence is and saying something if you see it happening. By acknowledging this reality and standing together as a united front, we can address the root causes of domestic violence and create safe communities where everyone can thrive.

Upcoming Campus Domestic Violence Awareness Events

• Oct. 1-4 – Silent Witness Display – Jacksonville Outreach Center.
• Oct. 1 – Silent Witness Display – Taylorville Outreach Center, 12-2:30 p.m.
• Oct. 2 – Silent Witness Display – Litchfield Outreach Center, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Oct. 17 – Purple Thursday – Springfield campus, A. Lincoln Commons
• Oct. 21 & 23 – Silent Witness Display – Springfield campus, A. Lincoln Commons, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Contact Shelley Vaughan, compliance and prevention coordinator, with any questions, 217-786-3682.

As we wrap up Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let’s not forget that Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. Throughout April, we learned about consent, bystander intervention and preventing sexual harassment. This week we focused on supporting sexual assault survivors through the Games Club sponsored Denim Day, held on Wednesday, April 24.

Congratulations to Alex Dean, student support specialist, who won LLCC Student Services’ Denim Day challenge. As the winner, Alex had $50 donated to Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault (PCASA) in his honor. This brings LLCC’s Denim Day fundraising total to $180 with all proceeds going to PCASA.

While April is wrapping up, let’s continue to educate ourselves on sexual harassment, which includes sexual assault. You can learn to be #BeTheChange on the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault website.

Additional information and resources on sexual assault is available on LLCC’s website. You may also contact Leslie Johnson, interim compliance and prevention coordinator at 217-786-2848.

This week we are focusing on bystander intervention. According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), “[e]veryone has a role to play in preventing sexual assault and there are many different ways you can step up to make a difference, notably through bystander intervention. An active bystander is someone who interrupts a potentially harmful situation, especially when it comes to sexual violence. They may not be directly involved but they do have the choice and opportunity to speak up and intervene.”

This Thursday and Friday, April 11 and 12, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., join Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault (PCASA) in A. Lincoln Commons to learn how you can be an active bystander.

Stay tuned for additional Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming.

• Week of April 15 – Sexual Harassment Prevention
• Week of April 22 – Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors

Additional information and resources on sexual assault are available on LLCC’s website. You may also email Leslie Johnson, interim compliance and prevention coordinator or call 217-786-2848.

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. About 3% of American men — or 1 in 33 — have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation.

During the month of April, LLCC offer opportunities to increase campus awareness about sexual assault and what each of us can do to change the statistics. Join us this week to learn about consent.

April 2 and 5 – from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., join Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault, PCASA, in A. Lincoln Commons to increase your awareness about consent.

April 5 – Help us Turn the Campus Teal. Teal signifies support for sexual assault survivors. We encourage you to wear teal this day. Please sign up to volunteer to place teal ribbons on campus.

Stay tuned for additional Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming:

Week of April 8 – Bystander Intervention
Week of April 15 – Sexual Harassment Prevention
Week of April 22 – Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors

Additional information and resources concerning sexual assault are available on LLCC’s website. You may also contact Leslie Johnson, interim compliance and prevention coordinator at leslie.johnson@llcc.edu or 217-786-2848.

Thank you to everyone who has helped bring awareness to Stalking through reading infographics, watching videos, identifying behaviors as sweet or stalker and participating in the first ever Day of Action for Stalking Awareness —#SparkleAgainstStalking.

To wrap up Stalking Awareness Month, we are hosting a Stalking Awareness Song Quiz today from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons. Stop by to test your knowledge about which songs promote behaviors that could be considered stalking.

If you have any questions about stalking, need additional information about available resources or to make a stalking report, you may contact Leslie Johnson, interim compliance and prevention coordinator, at 217-786-2848 or leslie.johnson@llcc.edu.

January 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of National Stalking Awareness Month.

Stalking, Prevention, Awareness.

The Stalking, Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC) reminds us that 92% of college age stalking survivors who seek help will seek help from family and/or friends.  Watch this video to learn about the importance of Context.

To help you help those who are surviving, we share these tips from SPARC;

• Believe and validate victims.
• Focus on the offender’s actions, not the victim’s responses.
• Support the victim and encourage them to seek help and document the stalking.
• Respect the victim’s privacy.
• Refer them to resources to make an individual safety plan and learn more about stalking.
• Check in with them and be a source of support.

For additional details on supporting loved ones who are stalking survivors, check out the resources on the SPARC website. Please continue to Know It. Name It. Stop It. throughout the entire year, not just in January.