JMU - SWO Programs and Events
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SWO Programs
LGBT & Ally Education Program Awards
The LGBT & Ally Education Program gives two awards to recognize individuals who have contributed to the LGBTA community. This event takes place in the spring semester every other year.
The LGBT & Ally Education Award is presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding contributions to the LGBTA community during the past year.
The CHRIS L. GATESMAN SERVICE AWARD is given in recognition of outstanding dedication and support of the LGBTA community at James Madison University. This individual's actions contributed to the creation or improvement of an inclusive, respectful, and safe climate on JMU's campus.
Woman of Distinction Award
Each year, Student Wellness & Outreach awards three women the Woman of Distinction Award. One award is given to a JMU Faculty member, a JMU staff member, and a JMU student.
Who is a Woman of Distinction?
She is a woman who inspires us through her imagination, innovation and dedication; her exemplary talent and achievements; her strength of character and the sincerity with which she serves.
A woman who possesses a passion for the people and places making up her everyday life, who breathes life and energy into our community this is a Woman of Distinction!
Criteria:
- Demonstrates excellence in the category selected.
- Displays leadership: vision, innovation, creativity and/or the courage to take risks.
- Provides inspiration and motivation to others.
- Enriches and improves the quality of life of others.
- Recognition as a positive role model through example, mentoring and/or educating.
- Has shown a special commitment to support and empower other women.
How do I Nominate a Woman of Distinction?
The packet for nominations is now available. Print this form and return to Liz Howley, Montpelier Hall, 506 or mail MSC 7901. Nominations will close Friday, February 24, 2012.
How are the Nominees Selected?
All applications will be reviewed by the Woman of Distinction Award Committee made up of faculty, staff and students. The award recipients will be honored during the annual Diversity Enhancement Awards and Woman of Distinction ceremony that occurs spring semester. Watch for the 2012 info coming soon.
Brown Bag Lunches
Student Wellness & Outreach collaborates with other campus offices and community agencies to present brown bag lunches throughout the year. Students and faculty are welcome to attend, bring their lunch, and engage in these often-interactive presentations.
Topics are often chosen to coincide with a specific awareness month, and in the past have included safety on campus, dating violence and sexual assault prevention, nutrition and eating disorders, women’s history, diversity, child abuse and neglect, and sexual health.
Do you have a topic you would like to see a presentation on, or present yourself?
For more information, please contact the SWO office. For information on upcoming scheduled brown bags, see our Upcoming Events page.
Her Two Cents
"If you don't put your two cents in, how can you get change?"
Her Two Cents is a fun, informal women's group dedicated to candidly discussing women's topics in books, films, current events, and more. The group, which was created in the fall of 2009, is open to all female undergraduate and graduate students and meets twice a month.
For more information, please contact Student Wellness and Outreach, 540-568-2831 for more information.
Take Back the Night
Our Cause
Take Back the Night is filled with musical performers, speakers, a speak-out, and a march. Musical performances and dramatic readings set the tone for speakers who bring their own personal insights about various forms of violence.
A speak-out follows, which provides a supportive environment for those survivors and secondary survivors that choose to share their experiences. After the speak-out, the participants carry candles and march through campus breaking the silence and making their voices heard.
If you come out and support this cause, it will be something you will never forget. Take Back the Night helps people who have been hurt and people who want to learn how they can help others. We come together this night to show JMU students that they are part of this great family and great institution, and that we as a JMU community will stand beside them, support them, stand up for them, and listen to them.
We come together for football games to give our team support, we go to parties to be around the amazing people that attend this school, we go to TDU, we walk through The Commons, but some of us are fighting a battle inside, and sometimes we are fighting that battle alone. Let’s stand up and rise against a battle that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men at this university are fighting. Let's fight it with them.
Take Back the Night will be held on April 3, 2012, on The Commons (rain location is Grafton-Stovall Theatre).
Reflections from TBTN ....
“This event changes my life year after year. Thank you to everyone who puts their time and effort into this and to all those who are strong enough to share their stories.”
“Take Back the Night gives people hope for the world, CARE, 1 in 4, and those who speak out offer a chance for survivors to reach peace and empowerment in their lives. Everyone involved, everyone attending THANK YOU. You are the change the world needs.”
“Take Back the Night is one of the greatest events that takes place at JMU. We are the vehicle for breaking the silence. CARE and 1 in 4 are amazing groups of people and I am so proud! Continue raising awareness and empowering survivors. We r here: 568-6411.”
“To the women: thank you for your strength and beauty. To the Men: Thank you for your support and courage to respect women. From a Fellow Man”
“Take Back the Night has changed my life...and continues to change it (for the better) every time I come. It's honestly the most moving and empowering event I have ever attended. Thank you for existing on our campus. We Are The Change We Wish To See In The World. (Thanks, Gandhi for your advice) from a primary survivor 3x over who knows what it means to fight back with compassion and love :-)"
No Woman Left Behind
No Woman Left Behind is an amazing night created to raise awareness for JMU's Take Back the Night. Through the event we hope to create a positive atmosphere and help build awareness for Take Back the Night while at the same time raising awareness about bystander intervention. JMU will be hosting three college women from California who intervened when they witnessed a horrific sexual assault.
No Woman Left Behind has been rescheduled from last spring! Please join us October 24, 2011, 7 PM, Grafton Stovall Theater.
The Paper Dolls Project
The paper dolls project is a visual display that represents the statistic that one in four college women have survived rape or attempted rape since the age of 14. Paper dolls are hung around the campus in residence and dining halls, student common spaces and bulletin boards, to remind us both that sexual assault is a problem that we will not tolerate, and that we can do something about it.
The Clothesline Project
The Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to violence against women and men. The Clothesline Project is composed of t-shirts decorated to represent various individual’s experiences with domestic violence, sexual assault or sexual victimization.
JMU students, faculty, staff, and local community members created all of the t-shirts on display. Please stop by to support those who continue to survive. Anyone interested in creating a shirt can do so during the event. The Clothesline Project is sponsored by the Office of Residence Life’s First Year Involvement.
The Clothesline Project will be on display April 2, 2012.
http://www.jmu.edu/orl/involved/firstyear.html
Back to topGET INVOLVED!
The Take Back the Night Coalition is a group of students who work to plan the Take Back the Night Benefit Concert & Take Back the Night. The Coalition meets weekly throughout the year, collaborating with CARE, 1 in 4, SWO, and FYI to make these events meaningful for JMU.
Meetings
Wednesdays starting September 21, 2012
8pm - 9pm
Taylor 309
For more information on how you can get involved please contact Student Wellness and Outreach at 540-568-2831.
Through the Eyes of a Woman
Through the Eyes of a Woman is a program that celebrates the diversity of women and women’s contributions through the art of expression. An annual event sponsored by SWO and the Center for Multicultural Student Services, this is a night of song, dance, poetry, dramatic readings, and more that celebrates women’s history, experiences, and emotions.
Although we encourage participants to develop an act that highlights women’s contributions to history, this is not a requirement to participate. We would like to include views from different nationalities, cultures, and races. Male perspectives are also welcome.
Details
Performances are very strictly limited to 10 minutes.
The event will be onTuesday, February 28, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Grafton-Stovall Theater.
The application information will be coming in Fall 2011.
Programs and Events
Please use the list below to navigate to a specific program or feel free to browse the page.
