[Note: The following is an open letter to the Oberlin College Community.]
To the Editor:
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Sexual Assault Support Team (S.A.S.T.) has sponsored several events this month to enlighten, educate and raise general awareness about issues pertaining to Sexual Assault here on the Oberlin College campus, Lorain County, the State of Ohio and the whole of America.
The National Clothesline Project will be acknowledged in Oberlin by S.A.S.T. in Wilder Bowl. The National Clothesline Project is traditionally a means of raising awareness of Sexual Assault and a means of healing for survivors of Sexual Assault. Survivors are encouraged to express the anger, pain, shame and fear that came about because sexual assault has affected/affects their lives-as well as to express the joy, courage, freedom and pride they seek as healing survivors-through decorating items of clothing with words, pictures or symbols. These items can then be (anonymously if so desired) displayed on the clothesline where members of the community can come to share in and learn from the survivors' experiences as well as simply acknowledge that sexual assault happens in the U.S. and more specifically, here in Oberlin.
If you would like to participate in the Clothesline Project, several options are open to you. You can create your piece to hang on your own or anonymously drop it off in the S.A.S.T. office in a box marked specifically for that purpose. Or, you can come to Wilder on the day of the project and make your piece to hang and put it up yourself (or have an on-duty S.A.S.T. counselor hang it for you). Also, materials for making pieces will be available in the S.A.S.T. office. A S.A.S.T. counselor will be present to answer any questions and to provide you with a private space to create your piece should you desire that.
Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 124, Number 21; April 19, 1996
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