Welcome

Break The Silence group picture, taken at group meeting on September 27, 2006.

"Let's Talk About It"

8/20/2007

Rebecca Tieder and Kelly Addington will be visiting our campus on September 10, 2007 to host 'Let's Talk About It,' a program aimed at educating students about sexual assault and the issues surrounding it. Using humor, bold-faced honesty and real-life scenarios, Kelly and Becca provide an atmosphere in which students feel comfortable and confident talking openly about sex. They understand that combating sexual violence on campus requires community action, and believe that their program lights that spark. Their hope is that this program starts the conversation that leads to a call to action in every college community.

Come join Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Sigma Sigma, Counseling and Wellness Services, Residence Life, Order of Omega, Student Government Association, Break the Silence, and NCAA for this informative and important event. It is completely free and will be held in the UWF Auditorium at 9:00pm on September 10, 2007.

Together, we will ALL end sexual violence.

We hope to see you there!

From the Pensacola News Journal Website:

Web site helps break the silence

UWF Web page shares tales of sexual violence

October 7, 2006

A University of West Florida rape awareness Web site is breaking the silence about sexual violence one click at a time.

The Web site, uwf.edu/BreakTheSilence, is intended to give power to the victims of sexual violence by allowing them to post their stories online for others to read.

"They are really eye-opening," said Christina Greene, president of Break the Silence, a UWF student organization that began in 2004 to raise awareness of rape and sexual assault. "(The stories) are real, and they are raw."

Greene said since the Web site's debut on Monday, she has received multiple e-mails from people who want to submit their own stories.

"There is a point when people go from being victims to being survivors," said Paula Orlosky, vice president of Break the Silence. "Often, claiming their experience is part of that."

Orlosky, the first to post a story online, said writing it was therapeutic for her.

"When I was all done, I had a big sigh of relief," she said. "I knew I'd have to live with what happened all my life, but I felt like I could finally move on."

Salie Abraham said writing her story helped her more than any other part of the healing process.

"Writing it and knowing it was going to be posted was such an emotional release," Abraham said. "It really helped with closure."

Abraham said she hopes her story lets people know that it is OK to speak out.

"I hope it shows people that even though these things can weaken us, we can still be strong," she said.

In addition to giving victims of sexual violence an outlet to tell their experience, the site is also intended to raise awareness, create empathy for survivors and provide information on resources available to victims.

From here (Pensacola News Journal homepage).

Law dictates label as sex offender

October 1, 2006

Janelle Bird faces mandatory classification as a "sexual offender'' because of the crimes she has committed. It would take a judge's order to list her as a "sexual predator,'' a more-serious classification.

"Sexual predator'' is a label given to a sexual offender who uses violence, is convicted more than once of a sexual offense, or who preys on children.

"Sexual offender'' is a label given to any person convicted of lesser sexual crimes than a predator, such as lewd, lascivious or indecent assault or acts in the presence of a child.

Predators and offenders must register with local law enforcement agencies. They must check in twice a year to have an updated photo taken and be reminded of their responsibilities as an offender or predator.

It is mandatory for local law enforcement to notify a community if a sexual predator moves in the area. Community notification of a sexual offender is authorized but not mandatory.

In Florida, a list of sexual offenders and predators are available to the public online at http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/homepage.do.

From here (Pensacola News Journal homepage).