Sexual assault is often an intensely personal and incredibly painful issue. However, at 7:30 tonight in Memorial Union Tripp Commons, students will confront the subject in the form of a drag show sponsored by Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment.
The event is a fund-raiser for the student group that works to create awareness of sexual assault on campus.
To get the issue out in the open, PAVE will present mini-plays highlighting issues ranging from date rape to drag queens and kings. In between each act, PAVE members will tell stories, give statistics and talk about what PAVE stands for.
\[This is a] fun fund-raiser where people can approach members of PAVE, enjoy themselves and also raise awareness of sexual assaults,"" said Megan Riley, a UW-Madison senior and media coordinator for PAVE.
Performers from Madison, Chicago and the Twin Cities will take part in Friday's festivities.
""[PAVE] is a group for men and women, survivors or non-survivors who just want to educate and make people aware,"" according to Kelly Cuene, a UW-Madison senior and PAVE visibility coordinator.
PAVE also aims to let students know safety measures they can take to prevent sexual assaults.
With Halloween quickly approaching, PAVE aims to combat the increased incidents of sexual assaults that come with drinking.
Cuene said that a campus dialogue on sexual assault is lacking.
""Sexual assaults happen so often ... and no one talks about it,"" she said.
This event, while geared toward sexual assault awareness in general, is especially focused on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
""[PAVE] recognizes violence within their community and wants to reach out,"" Riley said. ""Sexual assaults are so silent to begin with, but people really don't talk about same-sex assaults.""
The cost for the drag show is $3, with all proceeds going to support PAVE.
A Halloween Bash will follow the event and include snacks, drinks and dancing. The cost of attending both is $5. Both events, according to Riley, are aimed at any UW-Madison student who wants to have a good time while raising awareness for an important cause.
