SALSC hosts annual sexual assault awareness walk

Multiple advocates spoke about the importance of being aware about sexual assault, as well as resources available on campus, during an educational walk hosted by Student Athletes Leading Social Change (SALSC).

The goal of the Sexual Assault Awareness Walk, held annually, was both to speak about the issue and give students a space to talk about changes needed to reduce harm and increase sexual respect in the Grinnell College community, said SALSC President Kylie Galowitz `26.

Galowitz began the walk, held on Friday, Nov. 14, by emphasizing that the walk was designed to be reflective and accessible, noting that participants could follow along with the walk’s script using QR codes and links on their Instagram. The script told students about the resources available on campus that each speaker would highlight when they led students to a specific location.

The walk took students to multiple locations on campus such as Kington Plaza, the Forum and Campus Safety. Volunteers discussed what sexual assault is, the importance of being aware about sexual assault and the resources the school can provide if you feel that you have been sexually assaulted. After each volunteer spoke, the group held a moment of silence before moving to the next location.

Galowitz explained that SALSC works with multiple campus partners, such as Grinnell Advocates, who spoke at the walk, and the Title IX office to update the walk’s content each year.

“First and foremost, we go through the script every year. We reach out to people like the Grinnell Advocates, Title IX coordinator, and the cabinet reviews it to make sure that information and resources are up to date,” said Galowitz.

The first speakers of the night were representatives from Grinnell Advocates, who described their 24-hour confidential hotline and support services for survivors. The next speaker, Leah Barringer `28, spoke about change in campus surveillance. In February of 2025, the College installed cameras outside the Joe Rosenfield `25 Center along Eighth Ave. and in the North Campus loggia to enhance campus security.

Barringer said that camera footage isn’t regularly monitored and only will be reviewed to investigate reported violations. “If you need to report an incident where camera footage may be used, you will need to report within 14 days, or the footage will be discarded,” said Barringer.

Concerns about campus lighting came up during the walk. Galowitz said that the lack of lighting in South Campus, specifically that a number of the lights have not worked for the majority of the year, has been a concern for the students that walk home from campus events at night.

Jessie Miller `28, one of the speakers, said that the walk was important for students to be aware of all resources available to them on campus. “It’s not just a Grinnell thing and it’s not just a college thing. It happens everywhere,” said Miller. “So being able to shed light on all these resources that we have, that people might not have heard of, and give them an opportunity to realize what they can do as a part of the student body to help out and just be aware of what we can do on campus.”

Galowitz said that the resources change each year, so it’s important for students to show up and stay aware, not just for themselves, but for their friends as well.