Virginia Tech will be participating in the White Ribbon Campaign during the week of March 23, 2009.

Crimes of violence impact the lives of women and girls on our campus and throughout the world. The White Ribbon Campaign was launched in 1991 in response to the murders of 14 women by a male student at Montreal University in Canada. Men wore a white ribbon to visibly demonstrate their commitment to ending men’s violence against women. Virginia Tech has participated in this global campaign for many years.

This year’s campaign is being held to acknowledge the recent murder of Xin Yang and to recognize the unfortunate prevalence of violence against women on our campus and throughout the world. This effort is geared toward men working together to stop men’s violence against women. Men are asked to wear white ribbons and sign a pledge that they will never commit, condone, or remain silent about men’s violence against women.

The campaign is being held in conjunction with the Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night both of which honor survivors of violence.

Events include

  • White Ribbon Information Tables where white ribbons and pledge forms will be available. The tables will be set up on March 25 and 26 in Squires Student Center, Johnston Student Center, McComas Hall, and the Graduate Life Center from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. and at Ambler-Johnston and Shultz from 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
  • A White Ribbon Group Photo for men wearing their white ribbons will be taken on Thursday,March 26 on the steps in front of Burruss Hall at 6 p.m.
  • Take Back the Night will be held on Thursday March 26 at 7 p.m. Learn more about this event in the related news story.

Sponsors include, Sexual Violence Prevention Council, Women’s Center at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Dean of Students Office, Office of Judicial Affairs, Virginia Tech Athletics, Cook Counseling Center, Office for Equity and Inclusion, Residence Life, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Cranwell International Center, Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley, Virginia Tech Police Department, Office of the Provost, Graduate School, Graduate Student Association and others.

Written by Christine Dennis Smith.

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