Office of Equal Opportunity to host “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit

Maribel Barrera

The Office of Equal Opportunity, in partnership with the ISU Police Department and Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, will be hosting an event titled “What Were You Wearing?” as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“One of the objectives is to challenge people to formulate more healthy attitudes and beliefs regarding the common myth that clothing causes sexual violence,” said Jacob Cummings, an equal opportunity specialist within the Office of Equal Opportunity.

In an effort to tell the stories of victims of sexual assault, the event will feature clothing meant to represent the clothing that victims of sexual assault were wearing at the time that they were assaulted.

The Office of Equal Opportunity hopes that, with the success of this installation, it will lead to a more long-lasting exhibit of the same style, in order to allow visitors to better understand these survivors’ stories, said Cummings.

This is one of many campus events being held throughout the month of April as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Others include “Denim Day: Dialogue on Trauma and Healing” on April 23 and “Wear Your Denim with a Purpose” on April 24.

“We have to work together to make sure that we are taking care of people who have been affected [by sexual assault or sexual harassment.] We’re one big team, as [cliche] as that may sound, but it’s true,” Cummings said. “We’re all in this together as a campus community.”

The “What Were You Wearing?” event will be Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center.