Traditions We Cherish-SHARPP Anti-Violence Walk and Rally

By Madelyn McAteer
Special to UNHWildcats.com

A tradition that the UNH community including student-athletes partake in every year is the Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program's (SHARPP) Anti-Violence Walk and Rally. This event takes place every April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness month, with the purpose of addressing the subject of sexual assault and violence not only against women, but all human beings. This year, the walk and rally was expected to be held on Thursday, April 16 and would have been the 10th annual event, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SHARPP works determinedly to eliminate sexual and intimate partner violence by providing free and confidential advocacy and services to all survivors and their allies as well as offering awareness and prevention programs to the university.

The event is typically kicked off with passionate speakers on Thompson Hall lawn, followed by a walk around campus to show the UNH community's effort to not only put an end to violence, but also be comfortable in talking about such a prominent issue that is faced around the world.

Although the event cannot take place this year, junior field hockey student-athlete Isabelle Danahy (Chelmsford, Mass.) recognizes that awareness for the cause should still be raised. "The SHARPP walk and rally against violence's message is still very important for the UNH community to support and understand, even though the walk could not happen this year."

Knowing that she is looked up to as a student-athlete, senior member of the women's ice hockey team Abby Chapman (Beverly Hills, Mich.) has attended the walk and rally to help bring members of the community together and emphasize the importance of this movement.

"The SHARPP walk is always a staple event at UNH and it really highlights the accepting community we have on campus and in Durham. It's really important that those students who feel like they don't have anyone to go to know that there are students, faculty and community members that support them and have their backs. As student-athletes, it's so important that we use our voice and the platform we are given to highlight great causes and help gather support for these groups."

Senior men's ice hockey student-athlete Joe Lazzaro (Hampstead, N.H.) further indicates the significance of student-athletes rallying around SHARPP's cause and those who have been affected by it.

"Student-athletes at UNH have a presence on campus, so I think it is important for survivors to know that we are here for them and are committed to the goal of ending all violence in our community and beyond."

Lazzaro's teammate, junior Kohei Sato (Nishitokyo, Japan), jumped on the chance to support members of the community through the walk and rally.

"It is a great opportunity for us to help put an end to violence. It means the world to me and my teammates when fans come to our games, and we want to do anything we can to give back to the people in our community. Sexual and domestic violence is a serious problem in our society and if we can help end it by raising awareness at the walk and rally, we are more than happy to be a part of it. I hope that an end to the violence is near."

The annual SHARPP event does an amazing job at not only raising awareness for a dire cause, but also in unifying the UNH community. As it will be missed this year, the UNH community and student-athletes are already looking forward to next year's Anti-Violence Walk and Rally.

Previous Traditions We Cherish Stories:

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Abby Chapman

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