Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

SlutWalk’ event at UNLV promotes sexual assault prevention

SlutWalk

Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Students participate in the SlutWalk at UNLV April 26, 2017. The event intended to bring awareness to students about sexual assault prevention.

Holly Ramella says she embarked on a life of advocacy when she'd felt a sense of helplessness when a friend disclosed to her a sexual assault suffered.

“I didn’t know what to do or how to help,” Ramella, 22, said at the end of the "SlutWalk" event, which aimed to bring to light sexual assault awareness at UNLV.

“One, two, three, four,” she said through a megaphone, as the couple of dozen in attendance marched through campus and shouted it back. “We won’t take it anymore. Five, six, seven, eight; no more violence no more hate.”

The group, which included sign-toting students, marched east and then to the north of campus, heading south to the grassy area near the Pida Plaza where the lively crowd mellowed and attentively listened to stories of sexual assault volunteered by students.

A woman said she lost her virginity in an assault suffered as a 14-year-old at the hands of a man in his 40s. A man said he was sexually assaulted when he was 8. Another woman told the story of how a family member assaulted her when she was a little girl.

They were emotional and spoke about the way their lives were dramatically changed and how they've coped or tried to. It seemed like some healing has come through sharing such traumatic experiences and, in a way, instilling awareness so it doesn't happen to other.

There was crying, hugging and cheering. Before the "speak out" session, volunteers handed out care bags inscribed with "No More Shame" and "Slut Walk" with glue and glitter. T-shirts also were distributed.

Ramella, a gender and sexuality studies undergraduate who advocates for several UNLV groups, brought the Slut Walk to UNLV for a second year in a row.

The march originated in Canada in 2011 in response to alleged statements by a police officer indicating that if women did not want to be sexually assaulted, they should not dress like "sluts."

Las Vegas' march coincided with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is in April.

"We as advocates want to spread awareness to let people know that (what anyone wears is) not their problem," Ramella said. "That women, and folks in general, can wear whatever they want, act however they want. If they want to be sexual or not sexual, that's totally fine and that doesn't validate sexual assault."