"What Were You Wearing?" Survivor Art Installation Opening Kicks-Off Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Last updated on Monday, April 2, 2018

(INDIANAPOLIS) - April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. A Survivor Art Installation entitled “What Were You Wearing?” will be available for viewing for 22 days from April 3rd to April 25th.

The event is open to the public and will be hosted on the University of Indianapolis campus in collaboration with Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. The opening reception is April 3rd from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. in the Professional Edge Center, Schwitzer Hall, located at 1400 Campus Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46227.

University of Indianapolis President Rob Manuel will be kicking-off a month of activities and events addressing this important issue with this opening reception. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center CEO Sandra Ziebold will attend the art exhibition opening and the crisis centers advocates will be giving presentations on campus throughout the installation.

This exhibition is the first of its kind in Indiana and is a project inspired by a poem written by Dr. Mary Simmerling entitled What I Was Wearing. Her poem will be on display throughout the showing. The University of Indianapolis and Beacon of Hope Crisis Center are fortunate to present this recreation with permission from the original creators.

This installation provides a tangible response to one of our culture's most pervasive sexual assault myths. Outfits featured have been recreated from the stories of Student-Survivors. The stories utilized were donated by survivors and are used with their consent. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center will be available for awareness, prevention, education, advocacy services and referrals.

"Beacon of Hope is honored to collaborate with the University of Indianapolis on this Survivor Art Installation, the hope is that it is a learning experience. Ideally those participating will formulate healthy attitudes and beliefs regarding the common "clothing causes sexual violence" sexual assault myth. One objective is for participants to demonstrate understanding by not asking the question, "What were you wearing?" to survivors in the future." - said Sandra Ziebold, CEO, Beacon of Hope Crisis Center.

One of the goals of the Installation is for participants to see themselves reflected in not only the outfits, but also the stories. This realization moves us away from blaming the victim for violence and places responsibility where it belongs, on those who caused harm.

The hope is that survivors who experience the Installation feel heard, validated, believed, and know that the assault was not their fault.

According to US National Statistics -

1 in 5 women in the US have been raped at some time in their lives.
1 in 33 men in the US having experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.

The University of Indianapolis Title IX Campus Services and Beacon of Hope Crisis Center are collaborating to provide advanced advocacy for victims of crime. They both share an interest in and are providing preventative and supportive services to those impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault regardless of gender, race, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, etc. This collaboration increases access to services and improves awareness in the community. Sexual violence refers to physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person's will or where a person is incapable of giving consent (e.g., due to the student's age or use of drugs or alcohol, or because an intellectual or other disability prevents the student from having the capacity to give consent). A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion. Sexual violence can be carried out by other students, school employees or third parties. All such acts of sexual violence are forms of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX.

Read more about UIndy's Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policies.

Read more about upcoming UIndy and Beacon of Hope Crisis Center events during this April #SAAM18:
https://events.uindy.edu/event/sexual-assault-awareness-month/

About Beacon of Hope Crisis Center

Beacon of Hope Crisis Center a Christ-centered organization empowering victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to become self-sufficient by providing safety, support and education. Serving Central Indiana since 2009. Beacon of Hope, through its Crisis Intervention, Victim Advocacy, Counseling, "Teen Talk" Outreach and Education, Criminal Justice, Economic Sustainability and Foster Pet Programs offers victims of domestic violence and sexual assault free assistance in overcoming barriers that hold them in abusive situations. Beacon of Hope is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information about Beacon of Hope can be found at http://beaconofhopeindy.org.

About University of Indianapolis

The University of Indianapolis, which was founded in 1902, is closely tied to its surrounding University Heights neighborhood. Opening its doors in 1905 when the first building, now called Good Hall, was completed, from its beginning, the University has been coeducational and open to all races. The University's mission is to prepare its graduates for effective, responsible, and articulate membership in the complex societies in which they live and serve, and for excellence and leadership in their personal and professional lives. The University equips its students to become more capable in thought, judgment, communication, and action; to enhance their imaginations and creative talents; to gain a deeper understanding of the teachings of the Christian faith and an appreciation and respect for other religions; to cultivate rationality and tolerance for ambiguity; and to use their intellect in the process of discovery and synthesis of knowledge. For more information about the University of Indianapolis can be found at https://uindy.edu.

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