SToPP 5K Run raises awareness for campus sexual assault
October 27, 2016
The New Agenda, a national organization that works to reduce domestic violence, sexual discrimination and assault in communities throughout the country, sponsored the SToPP 5k Walk/Run on Saturday at Iona.
SToPP stands for Stop, Think, Protect your Peers and is meant to raise awareness for sexual assault on college campuses.
The New Agenda chose Iona College to be the location for the Second Annual SToPP 5k. Students, as well as community members, came together on campus to participate in the event and to donate for future New Agenda events.
The walk began in Mulcahy Gymnasium, and continued throughout campus. Participants wore t-shirts to spread knowledge of the incidents of sexual assault that can occur on college campuses throughout the state and country.
The campaign began in 2012 when The New Agenda sponsored “National Girlfriend Networking Day,” a day that pays recognition to the acts of sexual violence to young women.
The SToPP campaign is meant to mirror the National Girlfriend Networking Day while sharing the dangers of sexual violence with college students, according to The New Agenda.
Another focus of SToPP is to transform the behavior of bystanders in situations of sexual violence.
“Fifty percent of bystanders don’t intervene when they know an assault is going on,” Amy Siskind, the president and co-founder of The New Agenda, said. “It’s important to spread the word about prevention,and this is one way we can do it.”
Siskind said she was delighted to see the students show such appreciation of the cause; she hopes to continue to have Iona as the site for the annual walk, and is eager for the 5k to become student run.
“The New Agenda has a Woman Leadership Council throughout national campuses who host events for SToPP; it would be great for a Council to form here,” Siskind said.
The New Agenda hopes that this event helps raise awareness that there are organizations, such as The New Agenda, that work specifically for the decline of sex crimes.
The campaign strives to form a sense of community with students and their respecting neighbors to spread the word on prevention, according to The New Agenda.
“It was really nice to see local families in the community come together with Iona students for a good cause,” sophomore Erica Uhnmwangho said.
Students agree that it’s time for Iona to join the stand against sexual assault.
“With sexual assault between college students becoming a more popular topic in the media, I think it’s important that Iona was chosen as a venue for precaution and protection against such acts,” junior Elizabeth McNiff said.
Safety of the students on campus is a part of the Iona College mission and the recent interest in reducing sexual assault mirrors the hosting of the 5K. It follows a visit from the Lieutenant governor earlier in the semester.
