The abused get an outlet at UCI

Christine Carrillo

Costa Mesa received 28 reports of rape in 2001. Newport Beach had

five, and the UCI Campus Police Department received six, five of

which involved acquaintances.

Although these figures, released in June 2002 by the Federal

Bureau of Investigation, give an insight to only a part of the

problem with sexual assaults, students at UCI have assumed the task

of spreading awareness about the rest themselves.

In accordance with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the

university’s Center for Women and Men has sponsored a number of

events scheduled throughout April to address issues concerning sexual

violence.

“It’s all a part of our attempt to make people more aware,” said

Donna Norris, assistant director for the center and coordinator for

the campus assault prevention program. “It’s almost like a puzzle. We

try and look at [each issue] piece by piece, but unfortunately

there’s way too many pieces to tackle.”

They started putting together their puzzle of sexual violence

awareness with the eighth annual Clothesline Project.

The Clothesline Project, which displays more than 300 shirts,

provides an outlet for survivors of sexual violence or their family

and friends to visually share their messages in a public forum.

Decorated with graphic and personal illustrations, the different

designers take a step toward raising awareness of the effect sexual

violence has on society while also getting an opportunity to break

their silence.

“I think the actual process of making a shirt is very healing,”

said sophomore Jenn Ma-Pham, a sexual abuse survivor and sexual

assault peer educator. “I think it makes you really remember and

reflect on what happened ... in a way you kind of realize how strong

you’ve gotten from that point.”

Opportunities to break their silence doesn’t end with the

Clothesline Project. Students will also get a chance to speak out at

a campuswide “Take Back the Night” event rescheduled, due to the

weather, for April 24.

Designed to give women who fear a violent act may occur as they

walk the streets at night, the event gives them a platform to hear

presentations and share ideas about how to address this concern. The

primary focus is education.

“We feel the first step is just to educate people,” Norris said.

“Our goal is really just to make people more aware and make them more

critical of society.”

Even though giving survivors an opportunity to share their

experiences and providing the public with information concerning

sexual violence are two integral aspects of hosting events relating

to sexual assault awareness, they don’t touch on the ways society

opens doors to sexual violence, she said.

Every year, the center chooses a different societal topic to

explore and possibly unearth connections with sexual assault. This

year’s topic is hip hop. On April 23, Bridget Gray, a spoken word

artist, will speak about the positive and negative aspects of hip hop

and how there may or may not be a connection between violent lyrics

and violence against women.

“In order to address a problem, we have to address the whole

society,” said sophomore Miguel Magana, sexual abuse survivor and

sexual assault peer educator. “If we don’t change their point of

view, hopefully we give them some insight.”

For more information about the events, call UCI’s Center for Women

and Men at (949) 824-6000.