SAST april events promote awareness

Project portrays survivors tales

April is sexual assault awareness month. The Sexual Assault Support Team (SAST) is sponsoring a month of activities to raise people's awareness of the issues of sexual assault.

"I think there's a common misconception on this campus that sexual assault doesn't happen here," said first-year Megan Thompson, SAST April Committee chair. "I've talked to people who are surprised that SAST even gets calls."

The activities planned for April include films, workshops, and speakers. The project Thompson is most excited about, however, is the Clothesline Project, which will take place on April 24 in Wilder Bowl. Survivors of sexual assault hang clothing decorated with personal messages, accusations or narratives to convey their experiences to others.

Sophomore Vanya Hollis, who saw the project last year, called it "powerful."

Junior SAST member Jenny Morse found one item featured in past Clothesline projects especially moving. The item was a shirt cut out of clear plastic, on which was written "male survivor." Morse said the person who created it "felt invisible because there is so little support and acceptance out there for male survivors."

SAST members want to bring up a wide range of issues through the activities they have planned, including not only rape and incest but also domestic violence and sexual harassment. The focus will include male as well as female survivors.

"One of the problems with a project like this is trying to find movies and speakers that aren't based on the idea of straight, white, female survivors," said Thompson.

Two movies that deal with minority survivors are "What's Love Got to Do With It," which is based on Tina Turner's life story, and "Voices Unheard, Sisters Unseen," a documentary using performance and visual art to tell stories about women from multicultural perspectives.

Also, Dr. Richard Gartner will speak on male survivors Sunday. The title of his presentation is "Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse and its Aftermath as Men."

That same weekend, SAST will show the movie "Thelma and Louise." The Can Consortium has also tentatively agreed to do a benefit concert.

SAST wants to benefit the College community by raising awareness of the issues involved in sexual assault through these activities and to show support for survivors of sexual assault. "We're trying to change the perception that sexual assault isn't an issue on this campus," Thompson said.