STORY EXHIBIT
The following are true stories written by Kent State University students about their experiences as survivors of sexual assault.
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Throughout the first part of the semester, the Consent Campaign collected stories from Kent State students who were survivors of sexual assault. These stories were kept to a maximum of 500 words and gave the writer the options to remain anonymous or to disclose their identity and whether to have the stories read verbally or displayed visually. Thirteen stories were collected, which were then printed on posters and displayed on the second floor of the student center and again on the first. Each poster read, “It wasn’t sex, it was assault” along the top, and the stories in which the victim had not said “no” were captioned “There wasn’t a “No,” but there wasn’t consent; it was assault.” Many of the stories highlighted the commonality of victim blaming, power imbalances, lack of communication, being unable to report, and a sense of entitlement to someone else’s body. All of the stories contained the common theme of silence. We hoped that these stories would impress upon their readers and listeners why consent was is important, and what happens when it is missing.
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During the first display, members of the Consent Campaign read aloud the stories which were meant to be presented verbally every hour. One of the students who submitted a story came to read her own. In what took a tremendous amount of bravery, she recited her experience on camera, surrounded by her sorority sisters, who had come to support her. Others who submitted stories also came to see theirs on display.
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When we moved to the first floor, we found that even more students stopped to read. Some stayed to read each of them, others only a few. Some of the students cried together as they read. Other students stopped to talk to members of the campaign about the stories and about the message we were sending. All of us were heartened by the ability of a few people’s vulnerability and willingness to speak from the heart about some of the most traumatic experiences of their life to open both the hearts and minds of those who were willing to listen.
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To those who submitted stories, thank you for your bravery, your vulnerability, and your resolve to make sure that others do not go through the same experience. You are making a difference on this campus by breaking the silence.