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For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Student Government Association Executive Council

Dee Helton – (317) 698-5583, dhelton5@uthsc.edu or

Department of Communications and Marketing               

Dena Owens – (901) 448-4072, dowens10@uthsc.edu

 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Student Government Association Executive Council

Participates in Rape Abuse and Incest National Network Day

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‘Make It RAINN’ Luncheon Raises Awareness about Sexual Violence

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Memphis, Tenn. (September 20, 2011) – The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Student Government Association Executive Council (SGAEC) is pleased to announce its participation in RAINN Day 2011.  RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) campaigns to raise awareness about the serious problem of sexual violence. 

To observe RAINN Day 2011, the SGAEC is hosting a noon luncheon on Thursday, September 22, in the General Education Building, 8 S. Dunlap, Room, A102.  The “Make It RAINN” luncheon will feature a female survivor of sexual abuse who will share her story before more than 200 UT Health Science Center students.

UTHSC is one of more than 1,000 college campuses across the country participating in RAINN Day in order to reach young adults.   In America, every two minutes, someone is sexually assaulted.  Although sexual violence affects people of all ages, races and genders, college-age women are four times more likely to be victims of sexual violence than any other age group.

During the luncheon, departments across the UTHSC campus -- University Health Services, Office of Equity and Diversity, Department of Preventive Medicine, Student Academic Support Services, and Campus Recreation -- will assist with dispensing information to the students.  The information explains how to seek help and support by using the university’s available resources, as well as through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 800-656-HOPE, and the online hotline available at www.rainn.org.

“By participating in RAINN Day, we are raising awareness of the alarming prevalence of sexual assault and providing valuable information and resources to our classmates,” said Dee Helton, president of the SGAEC and organizer of RAINN Day 2011.  “The luncheon is also a great tool for informing our campus about RAINN’s efforts to fight the problem of sexual assault across the nation.”

            The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) is a national effort to raise awareness about sexual violence in America.  Every two minutes, someone in our nation is sexually assaulted, and 80 percent of the victims are under age 30.  RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE, as well as the online hotline at www.rainn.org.   RAINN carries out programs that prevent sexual assault, assist victims, and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.  For more information about RAINN and National RAINN Day, contact Megan Erhardt by phone at 202-544-5537, or by e-mail at megane@rainn.org.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service.  In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrates its centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  The UTHSC campus in Knoxville includes a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and an Allied Health Sciences unit.  In addition, the UTHSC Chattanooga campus includes a College of Medicine and an Allied Health Sciences unit.  Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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