RCSGA teams up with dean's office for White Ribbon Campaign

University of Richmond is gearing up for its first-ever Ribbon Run 5k Friday, a new addition to the White Ribbon Campaign, aimed at raising awareness for sexual violence.

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest movement in the world of men striving to end violence against women. Richmond has been involved in the movement since 2006 under the leadership of the Richmond College Dean's Office. Previously, the campaign has been solely a dean's office effort.

From this year going forward, the dean's office will partner with the Richmond College Student Government Association to bring their message to Richmond. The week of Nov. 18-23 has been dedicated to White Ribbon Campaign events on campus with the Nov. 22 Ribbon Run serving as a capstone for the week's initiative in the future.

Richuan Hu, RCSGA junior class chair, credits Richmond College associate dean Patrick Benner with spawning the idea for a 5k race and bringing it to RCSGA.

"When Dean Benner brought up the idea of adding a 5k to the campaign, I suggested using my position as junior class chair to hopefully start a new tradition by including the 5k in future years," Hu said.

Hu also said he thought RCSGA had been able "to provide voices representing the student body to the campaign," as well as additional funding and manpower. "We want to recognize and re-emphasize that violence committed by men toward women is never acceptable," he said. "We want to make students more aware that sexual violence toward women is a problem that needs and deserves our attention, and promulgate a campus culture of equality between men and women."

Hu said he had heard accounts of sexual violence and had seen the shadow of what such violence can do to its victims. "Helping to organize this event means that I am doing a part to fulfill both my personal goals and the goals of RCSGA," he said. He also said he had volunteered to have a portion of the RCSGA class cabinet funds diverted to help finance the cause. Hu hopes his fellow students will have a role, whatever the size, in the campaign as well, he said.

Benner said he aimed to bring something new to the campaign each year in hopes of "connecting with and educating more students and the university about the campaign." He said he was also pleased to announce some other revamps to the White Ribbon Campaign schedule. In addition to the introduction of the Ribbon Run 5k, the White Ribbon Campaign will also be offering "I pledge" bracelets, referring to the campaign's national pledge to "never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls."

"We also have partnered with Spider Athletics," Benner said. "At Spiders men's basketball and football games, students can wear White Ribbon Campaign shirts along with our athletes, showing Spider pride and solidarity in support of this cause."

Hu said that RCSGA and the dean's office collaborated to develop a 5k track that wound around campus, highlighting historic parts of the Richmond College campus, as well as the Westhampton Lake and running trails through the woods.

The 5k will begin 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22. It is $10 for students to participate and $20 for faculty and staff. The proceeds from the event go to the White Ribbon Campaign as well as Safe Harbor, a stable housing area and support team based in Richmond for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence.

Contact reporter Jacob Steinfield at jacob.steinfield@richmond.edu