PURPOSE

The Underrepresented Narratives of Sexual Violence Conference served as a way to expand the dialogue surrounding sexual violence on our campus, making sure we are speaking to all students and not just students of certain backgrounds. As such, the conference sought to provide a forum for student organizations from all corners of campus to discuss how sexual assault affects their communities.

ABOUT THIS PAST INITIATIVE

The VSAP committee partnered with as many campus partners as possible, relying heavily on support from Project Safe, Women’s Center, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence. The 2018 Conference occurred on October 28th and was entitled “No Longer Silent”, featuring Keynote Speaker Anita Hill. 2018 – 2019 Committee Chairs Farah Arif and Telyse Masaoay led the planning, along with support from our campus partners. Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), Hidden Dores, LAMBDA, and Student Health led breakout sessions.

The VSAP committee is currently deciding if this conference can be a forum to bring in high profile speakers every other year, or if we will need to scale it down and hold mini-conferences like we did the first year.

HISTORY

This past initiative idea was first brought to VSAP by committee member Carson Lystad (Class of 2018) in Spring 2016. Lystad and committee members Farah Arif (Class of 2019) and Sara Starr (Class of 2018) then worked to execute it in the 2016-2017 school year. In Spring 2017, VSAP held our first ever mini conference entitled “Underrepresented Narratives of Sexual Violence”. Our featured keynote speaker was Dr. LuoLuo Hong of San Francisco State University, and attendees were given the option to choose between six breakout sessions led by the Project Safe Center, Women and Gender Studies professors, Lambda, and Go Figure. Topics included body image, masculinity, the trans identity, using art for healing, and race.

CONTACT

If you have questions about this past initiative, please reach out to VSAP Committee Chair, Kit McGean, at kathleen.m.mcgean@vanderbilt.edu