The Sarah Doyle Women's Center and the Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Relationship Abuse (CASARA), in partnership with many other on-campus groups and organizations, are excited to announce a series of events aimed at increasing the dialogue about sexual assault on and off campus. This year's programming is multidisciplinary, engaging, and thought-provoking. Read more about some of our events below, and please take a moment to forward this email to friends, colleagues, or students who might be interested in celebrating this month with us.

The Brown University LGBTQ Center welcomes the community to help celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a series of events throughout April. In celebration of 10 years, they will be hosting an open house, speakers, panels, performances, films and a special LGBTQ History Exhibit that will be displayed from April 2nd-April 18th on the fourth floor of the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. Read more at their website.

Thursday, April 3rd

8-9:45PM, Salomon 203

What is so anti-black about homophobia and heterosexism? Through bodywork, poetry reading and manifesto-writing, participants will brainstorm ways to resist the dehumanization of black queer bodies and ideas.

Co-sponsored by Black Heritage Series, Women's History Month, Pride Series and TWC Graduate Interns

Opening Reception: Thursday, April 3rd

6-8PM, Sarah Doyle Gallery

On exhibition March 31 - April 25

9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday

Thursday, April 3rd

6-7PM, Rhode Island Hall 108

Scott Poulson-Bryant '08, award-winning journalist and author, will give a talk about his work on gender and sexuality and about his book, Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America. Scott was a co-founding editor of VIBE Magazine, and his writing has appeared in such publications as Rolling Stone, the New York Times, SPIN Magazine, Essence, Ebony, and the London Guardian. He is presently a PhD candidate in American Studies at Harvard. Reception to follow.

Sponsored by the Sarah Doyle Women's Center, Women Students at Brown, Pride Series, Black Heritage Series, and the Department of American Studies.

Monday, April 7th

12-1PM, Sarah Doyle Women's Center Lounge

Dr. David Lisak will be presenting his research on male survivors of sexual abuse and how these experiences tie in to notions of resilience and masculinity. He will show samples of The Bristlecone Project, a narrative photo project that explores the lived experience of men who were sexually abused as children. Lunch will be served. Space is limited - please RSVP to Yen Tran at yen_tran@brown.edu.

Sponsored by CASARA, Sarah Doyle Women's Center, and the Masculinity Series

Dr. David Lisak is a researcher and forensic consultant who for 27 years has studied the long term effects of sexual abuse in men, the relationship between child abuse and violence, and the motives and characteristics of rapists. Dr. Lisak will be joining us to discuss his research on false reports of rape. This talk will provide a clear explanation of the complexities of conducting research on false reports, including the complications of how rape cases are classified and how false reports are defined. It will separate out the good, reliable studies from the ones that can’t be interpreted.  Finally, it will provide an answer to the question: “What do the numbers tell us?”

Sponsored by CASARA, Health Education, Sarah Doyle Women’s Center, the Office of Campus Life, Residential Life, and the Office of Institutional Diversity

Monday, April 21st

5:30-7PM, Petteruti Lounge

This event will explore the many ways the landmark legislation Title IX has been used to ensure gender equity in education. Panelists Donna Lopiano of Sports Management Resources, Amanda Walsh of the Victim Rights Law Center, and Asaf Orr of the National Center for Lesbian Rights will discuss Title IX protections related to athletics, sexual misconduct, and transgender students, respectively. Join us in learning about the diverse application of this important resource, and be sure to bring questions regarding your own educational experience to the discussion following the talk. All are welcome.

Sponsored by SDWC, Women’s History Series, Society of Royce Fellows, Pembroke Center for Teaching & Research on Women, Office for Institutional Diversity, LGBTQ Center, CASARA, Taubman Center for Public Policy, Campus Life/President’s Discretionary Fund, and Department of American Studies

Thursday, April 24th

12-1PM, Sarah Doyle Women's Center Lounge

Aida Manduley, the Sexual Health and Relationships Advocate at Sojourner House, will be leading a lunchtime workshop on IPV in LGBTQ relationships, and general tips for healthy lovin’ and happy relationships. All are welcome. Lunch will be provided. This event has a limited capacity, so please RSVP to william_furuyama@brown.edu.

Sponsored by the Brown 250th Steering Committee, CASARA, and Women’s History Series

The SDWC is looking for 2 student programmers to coordinate Women's History Month and other events throughout next academic year. Application closes on Friday, April 11th. See more details and apply here.