NIU’s first annual fall Sexual Assault Awareness week, which runs today through Friday, will involve communicating information to students about sexual assaults, which have a “high risk” period in autumn.

Jeff Cufaude, NIU activities adviser for University Programming and Activities, said a fall awareness week is being held this year in conjunction with a spring awareness week because statistics from the NIU Sexual Assault Task Force show that more assaults occur during September and October than at any other time of the year.

Cufaude said that he did not know reasons for the higher assault occurrence but that it might have something to do with fall as being a “stressful” time of the year.

“People might be under stress because of tests and drink more … and we all know that a higher instance of assault occurs under the influence of alcohol,” Cufaude said. However, he said there were no facts behind his theory.

Blanche McHugh, sexual assault task force chairman, said two special activities are planned for the fall week, compared to several speakers and activities scheduled for the spring. She said the main focus of the fall observance is to get information distributed to students.

Cufaude said the Kappa Delta sorority will sponsor a special awareness program at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Holmes Student Center Skyroom. The program will feature a speaker from Safe Passage, who will present information about acquaintance rape.

Safe Passage, a local philanthropic cause for Kappa Delta, is a shelter in Chicago that offers support to battered wives and their children.

Wednesday’s program will be aimed toward victims of date rape.

McHugh said the second activity will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in room 305 of the student center. She said the program will be an open meeting for all students interested in joining a student sexual assault task force.

Thursday’s meeting will be a training session for student members, and information will be provided on the degrees, causes and prevention of sexual assault, McHugh said.

She said information about sexual assault and healthy relationships will be available throughout the week at the university Wellness Center located on the first floor of the student center.