LSU students and faculty dressed in identical grey shirts with the word “believe” emblazoned on the front, gathered in a small cove near Cypress Hall to show support for students who have been victims of sexual assault on Tuesday. The group then commenced a 20-minute silent march around residential halls to show they believed victims.

The second annual Believe March, hosted by LSU’s Lighthouse Program and led by its Associate Director Natalie Walton, is a powerful symbol of support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. The march takes place in silence as an intentional choice to give survivors a platform to be heard and respected.

“By walking in silence, we offer them the opportunity to stand alongside us without saying a word, allowing them to feel supported without the need to share their stories unless they choose to,” Walton said.

The march is leading up to Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. The Lighthouse Program, which is the confidential on-campus resource for students who have experienced this type of violence, chose to have the march because they understand April may be a triggering month for students.

“We wanted to show awareness and basically let survivors know that they are believed because a lot of the time they don’t feel believed or that anyone is on their side,” Walton said.

In addition to confidential support, the program offers resources like safe housing, obtaining medical evidence, emotional support, academic accommodations, filing police reports and mental health support.

“We want to help mitigate any stressors and let survivors know they do have options,” Walton said.

Before the march, the students and supporters gathered together as the director of wellness and student support, Kreslyn Kelley-Ellis, addressed the march’s impact on the student community. Kelley-Ellis explained the more awareness is brought to sexual assault, the more students feel comfortable asking for help.

“We’re so delighted you decided to take this quiet journey with us to send a loud message to all survivors that we believe them,” Kelley-Ellis said.

Upon checking in for the march, the LSU Health Center provided pamphlets and stickers that included all the resources the Lighthouse Program offers students. There were also three baskets of ribbon for students to wear on their shirt; a teal ribbon for sexual assault awareness, a purple ribbon for domestic violence awareness and a yellow ribbon for stalking awareness.
According to a study from last year, 13% of college students experience some form of sexual assault by the time they graduate, but only one in five female college students who are assaulted receive assistance from victims’ agencies. The Lighthouse Program seeks to end this violence through advocacy and student involvement.

The march boasted a turnout of about 100 people, about how many attended the first march last year. Senior psychology major Maggie Hebert learned about the march in her social work course and came to show her support.

“It seemed like an important thing to be a part of, and I wanted to learn more about how to help people in my life who have been through this,” Hebert said.

The march directors emphasized was how important it was to show support for student survivors.. They often have to jump many hoops to receive proper care and support, and this is many times a deterrent for asking for help in the first place. This march seeks to be a piece of ending shame and stigma around sexual assault.

“The march is not just an event, it’s a message,” Walton said. “It’s a call to action and a collective stand to honor those who have experienced trauma.”

The Lighthouse Program is located on the ground floor of the Student Health Center. Walk-in and scheduled appointments are available. For additional information on the Lighthouse Program, call 225- 578-5718 or contact the 24-hour crisis and emotional support resource, The Phone at 225-924-5781.