Source: Emily Saldana
Start by Believing(SBB) is looking for participants for a “What Were You Wearing?” exhibition that will take place in the Visual Arts Center(VAC) from Oct. 14 until Oct. 27.
The exhibit serves as a way to call attention to the myth that what a survivor wears contributes to their sexual assault.
Emily Saldana, president of SBB, added that the event is a way to “give a platform for survivors of sexual assault to share their story whether it be publicly or anonymously”.
The purpose of the exhibit is to call attention to victim blaming phrases that are commonly used in society, in this case the question of what the person was wearing. Saldana emphasized that it serves “to show that no matter what you’re wearing it can happen to anyone so what you’re wearing never mattered in the first place”.
Saldana was inspired to host the event after seeing a few TikToks of other groups hosting it, adding that “the more videos I saw of it, the more I felt excited and inspired to do the same. I immediately messaged my board with the idea and we soon started planning”.
The installation of SBB’s “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit adds Saint Xavier to the constantly growing list of schools calling attention to this issue, including Penn State University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Toledo.
This is the first time that SBB will host an immersive event such as this and a lot of planning has been put into it since the board decided to host the extensive event in June, especially in regards to finding a space to host the event.
Due to the limited amount of space for Registered Student Organization(RSO) events on campus, the SBB board had issues finding a spot where the exhibit could be set up for at least a week. Saldana noted that the board was “happy to find a space in the VAC thanks to the gallery director, Catherine Ruggar”.
Saldana asks that people “please be respectful to our exhibit and to people’s story and items while attending. While classes are going on throughout the week noise should be kept down to a minimum”.
SBB is an international campaign that focuses on transforming the way people respond to sexual assault. The campaign stresses that when a survivor comes forward about their assault, having people react negatively to them can cause more trauma or push them away from seeking justice for themselves. Therefore, the campaign expresses that the response one gets is a critical step of the process.
Their official website states that “Start by Believing stops this cycle by improving our personal and professional reactions”.
The campaign aims to ensure that survivors of sexual violence are surrounded by people who belive them.
The RSO advisor Steve Taylor, Ph. D., added that SBB started at Saint Xavier in the 2021 spring semester.
On campus, SBB serves “as a piece to a bigger picture. A student organization here on campus that advocates for survivors of sexual and gender based violence as well as educating responders to it”, Saldana stated.
SBB is looking to host another event similar to the “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit in the spring semester called “Take Back the Night” to further teach about sexual violence while “enjoying food and good company” Saldana added.
Those interested in participating in the exhibition can apply by using the QR code on SBB’s Instagram(@sxustartbybelieving) or through TheDen. The organization can also be contacted with additional questions through these platforms.