SMICK Rally culminates a day of remembrance and solidarity for sexual assault survivors, ending off the 2026 Raise Your Voice Symposium. The symposium seeks to empower those who have experienced sexual assault and raise awareness of its prevalence on college campuses.
The tradition began five years ago when Saint Mary’s students came together, as a form of action against sexual assault and to reclaim the word “smick,” which had been derogatorily created by residents of Zahm Hall towards Saint Mary’s students.
The event continues to be student run, with major campus organizations including the Student Diversity Board (SBD), the Student Government Association (SGA), the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Student Activities Board (SAB). Other campus organizations and departments ran tables that provided students with resources and supplies to build a safety keychain or create a painting centered on the Saint Mary’s experience. Additional features included art projects, dinner by Loupa’s Chicken and various giveaways.
“What we’re really looking to do is really help girls embrace and be proud to be smicks. There’s a long history with SMICK Rally and its beginnings, and I think it’s important that we keep the tradition alive and really stand with each other,” senior Bella Perry, president of RHA, said.
Senior Nina Andoh, president of SDB, shared that SMICK Rally is not intended to make light of the experiences of students, but to make sure students feel safe, heard and welcomed.
“You understand it’s a heavier topic, and you don’t ever want to take away from that, but we also want people to feel safe and have fun. So, we put on this event. One of the biggest points of it is just for survivors to feel seen and heard and welcomed,” Andoh said.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an opportunity for communities to stand in solidarity with those who have experienced sexual violence and raise awareness for its affect on communities. On college campuses, one in five women experience sexual assault, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
“The entire reason for the word smick becoming a thing was because of predatory and demeaning behavior towards smicks,” Andoh stated. “Specifically, in some recent halls that no longer exist, but also all around the tri-campus community as a way to demean us, on top of the dehumanizing behavior and sexual assault, a lot of sexual biasing ... We wanted to bring back a sense of pride.”
Liz Baumann, Title IX officer and director for harassment education and response, explained SMICK Rally is a reminder to students of the power that their voices have in creating change when given a platform. Baumann shared she is proud of the work that has been done and hopes students will continue to use their positions for positive change.
“We’ve done a lot of work, and we’ve come really far, but there’s still a lot that we need to do. And so I hope that students will continue to raise their voices, to make change and to make the administration change,” Baumann said.
Shay Jolly Schneider, associate dean of students, passed out t-shirts at the SMICK Rally supporting survivors. She shared events like this are important steps to creating community together.
“I think I am hopeful that this opportunity, that these events, that SMICK Rally, continue, and we can continue as a community to work towards prevention and building a community that is proud to represent sexual violence prevention and be a voice,” Schneider said.
For students, SMICK Rally represents awareness of the experiences of sexual assault and how it affects the Saint Mary’s community.
Freshman Lauren Matthews attended SMICK Rally because of her passion for raising the voices of community members who have experienced sexual assault. She saw it as a powerful introduction to a week focused on awareness.
“I think that if I can be just a part of this little event, that will help raise awareness,” Lauren Matthews said. “I think that it’s a beautiful message that not only compasses sisterhood, but the backing and support that so many of us have [for each other].”
Also drawn to SMICK Rally, freshman Sophia Matthews shared it was because the importance of the topic broaches. She was grateful of Saint Mary’s willingness to address sexual assault when she feels many institutions try to ignore it.
“I just appreciate it, because I feel like there’s a lot of colleges that don’t even talk about it, and I think it’s really important to have girls understand that some things that happen in their life isn't their fault,” Sophia Matthews said.
Sophomore Monica Marquez views SMICK Rally as a way to continue the conversation of sexual assault and how it’s handled by equipping students with resources and being transparent on the impact.
“There is some very painful history associated with that on this campus. And I think it’s good that they don’t just ignore it, they recognize it, and they teach students about it and how to be safe,” Marquez said.
Senior Johanna Gonzalez, secretary of SDB, wants students to know that they are seen, heard and supported.
“I hope students are able to feel, seen, heard and believe ... I hope they also find a huge community of support.”
