Every year, members of the Sexual Assault, Hazing, and Alcohol Prevention Education organization, also known as SHAPE, host a carnival to educate students on these topics.  

Every year, there is a theme that SHAPE designs the carnival around. Last year’s theme was Monopoly, but after a majority vote, the SHAPE committee selected this year’s theme to be “A Night with Netflix,” said Alisabeth Graham, the head of student committee for SHAPE.

“At this carnival, we will have multiple booths all centered around the theme,” Graham said.

“At these booths, there will be games to play and prizes, like candies, to win.”

T-shirts will be given to students attending the carnival.

Hoor Qureshi, a global health studies and global development studies double major, said she attended the SHAPE carnival last year and is anticipating going again this year.

“It was really cool getting to see all the different organizations interact by having various activities for students to partake in,” Qureshi said.

The SHAPE carnival is focused on educating students about important issues like those in their mission statement, sexual assault and hazing to name a few, she said.

“Students should look forward to a fun, educational way to learn about hazing, sexual assault, alcohol abuse and drug abuse. Since this year’s theme is Netflix, students can visibly see how things they watch all the time can relate to them,” Graham said.

SHAPE also puts great emphasis on providing students with easy-to-understand facts that have been double-checked from multiple sources. These facts are then presented by using games surrounding the Netflix theme, Graham said.

“We keep the research updated and add it to our database. We have a pro staff that handles the research and then I, as the head of the Student Committee make sure the information is student-friendly,” Graham said.

Graham said, SHAPE is still looking for people to host a booth at the carnival. Interested individuals or organizations should email shape@mercer.edu.

“Organizations are welcome to apply to host a booth by emailing us beforehand,” Graham said. “The organizations can present their own fun representation of the theme in any style. But every booth must be educational.”

The SHAPE carnival will take place March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. on Cruz Plaza (rain location: Heritage Hall) and will be open to all Mercer students for free.