The Center for Women and Men and the Office of Residential Life are cosponsoring “Spring Break 101,” an information session to provide practical tips when dealing with issues of sexual assault during spring break.
“Spring Break 101″ was created in part to inform students how to enjoy their break while also staying safe.
“Safety tips about sexual assault can be helpful reminders that may save lives or prevent life-changing or embarrassing experiences,” said Christina Miller, associate director of the Center for Women and Men.
This event will be the first time the Center for Women and Men and the Office of Residential Life have partnered together in a sexual-assault education program aimed directly at spring break.
There will be two opportunities to attend the event. The first session will take place today at the Hedrick Fireside Lounge and the second session will take place Thursday at the Rieber Fireside Lounge. They will both be held at 7 p.m.
Also noted by Miller, there is usually an increase in students coming into the Center for Women and Men due to problems that may have occurred during spring break, such as being the victim of sexual assault or being accused of sexual assault.
Sexual assault “cuts across gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. The information provided will be useful to any type of student,” Miller said.
The event will consist of a presentation by Miller and two student interns of the Center for Women and Men, who will share their knowledge and experiences in dealing with sexual assault.
“The goal is to have students approach spring break with a cautious attitude. It is not meant to scare, but to empower and provide an upbeat attitude about spring break,” said Cailin Crockett, an intern for the Center for Women and Men.
Crockett also gave one of the tips that will be presented at the event: If traveling to a foreign country, students should program the country’s emergency contact number into their cell phones because 911 may not work in every country. Crockett said the simple gesture could potentially make a big difference in emergency situations.
The tips from the event “are guidelines to help at all aspects of life,” Crockett said. “Spring break is just one example where safety and preparation can be emphasized.”
“Even if students are not planning on partying or traveling during spring break, the information session may still be helpful in the everyday college living experience,” Miller said.
Upon hearing about the event, Nina Nguyen, a second-year sociology student, said she thought the information was very helpful even though she wasn’t planning on attending.
“I never really thought about some of the dangers of spring break as long as I was with my friends, but I would feel safer knowing I did something beforehand than if I did nothing at all,” Nguyen said.
Along with the presentation, both sessions will consist of food and raffles for round-trip tickets to San Francisco or Las Vegas and $50 gift certificates to the UCLA Store.