Tarana Burke to share her story that led to a viral campaign for victims of sexual assault and harassment.
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Social justice activist and sexual assault survivor Tarana Burke, founder of what has become the #metoo movement for victims of sexual assault and harassment, will share her personal story at Bucknell University on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Weis Center for the Performing Arts.
The event is free and open to the public, although tickets are required. Tickets will be available to Bucknell students, faculty and staff with a valid University ID on Friday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the Weis Center Box Office. If seating is still available, tickets for the general public will be made available in the box office on the day of the lecture starting at 6 p.m.
The senior director of programs at the Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equity, Burke is known for being the first to use the phrase “Me Too” in 2006 to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society. The phrase developed into the broader #metoo movement. TIME magazine named Burke among a group of prominent activists dubbed “The Silence Breakers” as its 2017 Person of the Year. She has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and to laying the groundwork for a movement that was initially created to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse and assault.
“We are thrilled to have Tarana Burke come to campus to share her story and experiences with us,” said Rachel Stewart, interpersonal violence prevention coordinator at Bucknell. “She will provide words of empowerment that lift up marginalized voices, enable other sexual assault and harassment survivors to know that they are not alone, and create a place for comfort and healing to those who have experienced trauma.”
The event will be the culmination of Bucknell’s Second Annual Sex Week, which features programming, events and workshops aimed at the promotion of healthy, consensual relationships; safe sex and students making the best and most informed choices for themselves.
Speak UP Bucknell, the University’s volunteer peer education group, is the main sponsor of Burke’s appearance and Sex Week events. Additional sponsors include Bucknell Residential Education, Fraternity & Sorority Affairs, the Griot Institute for Africana Studies, Inter Residence Hall Association, Her Campus Bucknell, Unite & Inspire, the Association for Computing Machinery–Women’s Chapter, the Dean of Students, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Multicultural Student Services, LGBTQ Resources, the Women’s Resource Center, the Panhellenic Council, the Interfraternity Council, the Undergraduate Executive Internship Program, Women in Finance, Do Random Acts of Kindness, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Kappa Gamma, Chi Phi, FIJI, Kappa Delta Rho, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Gender, and the Department of Women’s & Gender Studies.
Questions about the event can be directed to speakup@bucknell.edu.
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