Sexual Assault and Violence Education (SAVE) hosted a bracelet-making event in the Van Pelt and Opie Library on Thursday, Sep. 24. The event aimed to raise awareness of sexual violence and abuse while allowing students to take a mental break.
Bailee Shankleton, a student working at the event, said, “We are making these bracelets … as a mental health thing. It’s a good break from whatever you might be doing in your own time, but we also like to donate them to the women’s shelter.” The bracelets are donated to the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter located in Ontonagon and are meant to serve as a reminder to survivors that they are not alone.
Several students participated in the event throughout the day. Student Theodore Eldred said he learned about the event through the student calendar and decided to attend. “I saw [the event] on the … calendar things going on … and so I thought it was important to show up.” Eldred was already familiar with many of the resources available to students but said the event still served as “more of a reminder of the hotline or … what you can reach out to.”
Students seeking help have access to several resources, including Title IX, the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, Public Safety, and the Copper Shores sexual assault hotline for 24/7 support. Friends and family can also provide an important source of support.
“I think it’s always important to reach out to the people close to you. Your friends or family members … because your village is who’s going to support you the most through stuff like that,” Shankleton said. “If it’s something serious, go to the authorities.”
Beyond connecting students with available resources, the event offered a way to show support for survivors. Shankleton said students could “Take a break, let your mind be creative for a few minutes,” while also bringing awareness to “supporting the people that have been through these tragic events … in unconventional ways.”
