Disclaimer: Trigger warning for heavy discussion of sexual violence

In April, groups around Tucson join organizations across the country in raising awareness around sexual violence.

More than one in three women and one in four men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. 

Adriana Grijalva didn’t expect to be one of these survivors until she was assaulted by one of her friends in mid-February.

Recently re-elected as Associated Students of the University of Arizona student body president, Grijalva took to her Instagram on March 1 to write about her experience dealing with the pain of endometriosis and being taken advantage of a week before her surgery to diagnose the disease.

“A little over a week before my surgery, I was violated by someone I trusted deeply,” she wrote. “The hospital visit and rape test opened my eyes to the reality many face but never speak out about.”

Grijalva said in a deeper conversation that she went out with her family and took the evening off from work and school after feeling stressed from her everyday duties, then went to hang out with one of her friends. He assaulted her later that night.

“I opened up about it (online) because I’m in the public eye. I’m the type of person to be at every meeting, do everything and feel a little down if I’m not doing the job 100%,” Grijalva said. “I actually showed up to work the day after, that afternoon. A lot of that goes to say, I think a lot of people think when you’re in a leadership position, that things couldn’t happen to you.”

That couldn’t be further from the truth, Grijalva said.

At first, she said she was scared to share her experience and worried she would be blamed or asked what she was wearing. Instead she was surprised by the number of students who showed her support.

“A lot of people messaged me, ‘Hey, this happened to me and I never said anything, and you just showed it’s okay to be vulnerable and it’s ok to have a voice,’” Grijalva said. “I also think the resources here, I mean, a lot of them took such good care of me, and I hope the students know they really do care.”

The post received nearly 800 likes with dozens of comments showing support for the student leader. Her case remains under investigation.

On top of dealing with the assault and endometriosis diagnosis, she was also running a re-election campaign, which she won on Wednesday, March 26.

Though it was a stressful time, she said she’s happy to be able to serve the UA community again and hopes to be a voice for student survivors of sexual violence.

“I think as Sexual Assault Awareness Month comes up, I’ll be speaking out at a few things and talking (at events),” she said. “We can create this sense of reassurance that there are people here listening, and that they don’t have to be scared, because I think there’s a lot of fear of what’s going to happen if (sexual assault survivors) file.”

Sexual Assault Awareness Month events in Tucson

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, also called SAAM. Organizations across Tucson are participating in the month to honor survivors and provide resources to the community.

Wildcats Roar Against Sexual Violence

In Tucson this year, Wildcats Roar Against Sexual Violence is among local events honoring survivors. On Wednesday, April 2 on the UA Mall the university will host the event for the second time. It will feature a resource fair, 5k walk, survivor speakout and candlelight vigil. Mayor Regina Romero, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover and Tucson Police Department Assistant Chief Diana Duffy will all speak at the event.

“I think a lot of people think about sexual assault and they think, ‘Oh, that’s never going to happen to me.’ And even if it doesn’t happen to you, most likely it’s going to happen to somebody you know,” said Tamra Ingersoll, public information officer for the University of Arizona’s Office of Public Safety. “So coming out, learning about the resources, learning about the community here to support you, learning about the things that you can do to safeguard and prevent being a direct target, that’s so empowering, and that’s what we bring with this resource fair.”

According to the UA’s 2024 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report, there were 26 cases of rape in 2023, including 17 on campus. This number is a significant decrease from the 83 cases reported in 2022, including 75 on campus. 

It’s important to note, however, that every time a report is made, a new case is added. In 2022, 64 out of the 79 reported incidents of dating violence, forms of emotional and sexual abuse, occurred in the context of a single dating relationship, according to the Office of Public Safety. It is uncertain if any of the 2022 rape cases are also from this relationship.

“There are multiple ways people can report these (cases). Dean of Students Office, the Compliance Office, … UAPD or through the campus reporting agencies. Like housing has mandatory reporters,” Ingersoll said. “These will all be funneled to compliance, who collects the data and does the investigations around sexual assault for the university, and this is in conjunction, usually, with a police investigation.”

Wildcats Roar Against Sexual Violence will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2. Along with the Office of Public Safety, local organizations Take Back the Night Tucson and the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, also known as SACASA, will be hosting the event.

Dine Out for Safety

Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, known as SACASA, 1600 N. Country Club Rd., will also be hosting Dine Out for Safety on Wednesday, April 26. Twenty restaurants will be participating by donating proceeds that day to SACASA.

“Up to 20% of the proceeds from whatever dining is done at that restaurant that day will go towards directly supporting survivors of sexual violence, whether that’s through paying for free therapy that we provide and some of our other services,” said Crisis Advocate Elena Santana.

SACASA provides crisis services, advocacy, support, therapy and education for individuals and families impacted by sexual trauma, according to the organization’s website.

Santana, a sexual assault survivor herself, said she became a volunteer at SACASA about two years ago and eventually took a full-time position. She’s now graduating with a master’s in social work, and as her time with the organization comes to an end, she says it’s been a wonderful growth opportunity.

“We do a lot here, and we do a lot of advocacy events where we go out into the community and help people understand a little bit more about the complexity of sexual violence, helping them safety plan, helping them get whatever supports they need,” Santana said.

Additional Sexual Assault Awarness Month events and initiatives:

Navigating Healthy Relationships event

• When: April 8
• Where: Women and Gender Resource Center
• Hosted by: UA’s Campus Health, Pride Alliance, FORCE

Title IX Reporting Panel: Understand Your Rights

• When: April 9
• Where: ASUA Classroom
• Hosted by: UA’s Survivor Support Services, Title IX, Housing and Residential Life, Institutional Equity

Denim Day

• When: April 30
• Where: UA Mall
• Hosted by: UA’s WEB

ASUA will also hold its “I Will” campaign, an annual campaign to raise awareness about sexual assault and promote consent through a variety of campus events, resource fairs, movies and speakers.

Southern Arizonans impacted by sexual trauma can call SACASA’s 24/7 hotline at (520) 327-7273 or toll-free at (800) 400-1001. 

According to the organization’s website, if someone is raped, it is best to not shower or change clothes if at all possible. Everyone has a right to have an advocate present with them at the hospital. The hospital will contact law enforcement, but you are not required to talk to an officer or deputy if you do not wish to speak with law enforcement. Visit www.sacasa.org for more information.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.