Laps With Lakers raises awareness on sexual and interpersonal violence

Students, faculty, and staff gathered Wednesday inside the Marano Campus Center Arena at SUNY Oswego for the 11th annual Laps with Lakers event.

Participants spent the day walking, running, or rolling laps to raise awareness for sexual and interpersonal violence. Organizers say the event is designed to honor survivors while encouraging conversations about prevention and support resources on campus.

According to national data, the majority of victims of intimate partner violence experience abuse before the age of 25, including 69% of female victims and 53% of male victims. That reality makes college campuses a critical space for education and prevention efforts.

Lisa Evaneski, Title IX Coordinator, said the event has maintained its core mission since it began more than a decade ago.

“Our main focus was back then and also is now is dealing with the amount of sexual and interpersonal violence that exists in our world and raising awareness to that. That happens here too, and people need to know that. So we ask people to come and raise awareness and stand for something and this is our 11th year,” Evaneski said.

The event also emphasized accessibility, allowing participants to contribute laps in a variety of ways, including walking, running, or using wheelchairs.

Organizers hope events like Laps with Lakers continue to build awareness, support survivors, and encourage members of the campus community to take an active role in prevention.