Educating adults and students has been an ongoing goal this month as Emporia High School recognizes Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Prevention month.
EHS nurse Kathy Palafox and counselor Susan Severin organized a series of speakers, exhibits and contests that will continue through May 6 and will feature a special presentation in the high school gymnasium on April 28 by Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, murder victim and ex-wife of football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson.
Brown’s appearance will be held during the school’s seminar period. Palafox said that a drawing has been held among eligible students to determine who will be able to attend Brown’s talk.
Signs, shoes and T-shirts are posted or hanging throughout the school, and an SOS booth has been set up for students and staff to ask questions, pick up educational materials for themselves or others, or disclose their own abusive situations.
“We wanted to make the booth available for them in case they wanted to seek help,” Palafox said.
A display of T-shirts that express emotions have been made by victims of violence and hung around the school. An exhibit of shoes, with similar representation, was expected to be lent for the project by the Youthville child welfare organization.
The month-long awareness activities began with distribution of teal ribbons to represent violence. One in three students received the ribbons initially, to represent the one in three people who are affected annually by violence. After several days, all students and staff members received the ribbons.
SOS workers Angie Morey and Danielle O’Mara are making presentations to numerous classes, including all freshman, sophomore and some upper-level physical education classes, as well as other sessions.
Palafox said that students and staff also are being encouraged to be more observant of the people around them and to notice students that perhaps do not make eye contact or who isolate themselves or exhibit other subtle signs of abuse.
Three questions have been posted in English and in Spanish around the building, with students and staff encouraged to write answers on the posters to:
• What can you do to help prevent sexual violence?
• How can you help someone who has been sexually assaulted?
• What can you do if you are sexually assaulted?
A contest also is under way to encourage young people “to speak up and out about violence,” Palafox said.
Students can submit essays, poems or two-dimensional art to show how they have been affected by violence or how it can be prevented.
Area merchants have donated money, gift certificates, a video gaming chair, food certificates and bowling and golf passes that will be awarded as prizes in the contest, which will end on May 6. Prizes will be awarded on May 13.
“We even have staff out here donating money for prizes,” Palafox said.
The activities and programs have generated considerable discussion among staff and students.
“That’s the first step, is to get the kids to start talking about it,” Palafox said.
Students Against Destructive Decisions and Latino Unida, student organizations at EHS, are co-sponsors of the project.