The Michigan State University Museum and The Army of Survivors have partnered to launch a roundtable discussion series to raise awareness and provide education on the effects of sexual violence.
Sessions will be held at the MSU Museum and at the MSU Detroit Center.
The Army of Survivors, which was founded by survivors of Larry Nassar, is a non-profit in the making committed to bringing awareness to the systematic problem of sexual abuse.
“The museum is delighted to be partnering with The Army of Survivors, an important advocacy organization for survivors of sexual violence,” said Mark Auslander, museum director. “We are especially delighted that sister survivors will be participating in every one of these sessions, in conversation with scholars, practitioners and other advocates.”
The five-panel series will touch on topics including trauma, consent and healing. The discussions will also explore resisting sexual violence through a racial justice lens and journalism coverage through a sexual violence crisis.
Panelists include Kate Wells from Michigan Radio’s podcast “Believed;” Rebecca Campbell, an MSU professor of psychology known for her research pertaining to sexual assault and violence against women and children; and survivor and advocate Amanda Thomashow, who filed the title IX investigation against Nassar in 2014.
“It’s incredibly exciting to continue the conversation around such an important topic,” said Grace French, founder of The Army of Survivors. “With these panels, I hope that MSU and the Michigan community can continue to learn about the effects of sexual violence and go out to make impactful change.”
Speaker series schedule:
- “Understanding Consent: Legal and Ethical Perspectives on Sexuality and Sexual Violence” – 5:30 p.m., Feb. 12 at the MSU Museum
- “Resisting Sexual Violence through a Racial Justice Lens: Toward Inclusive Transformation” – 6 p.m., Feb. 20 at the MSU Detroit Center
- “Covering the Crisis: Journalism and Sexual Violence” – 5:30 p.m., March 12 at the MSU Museum
- “Repair: Art, Ceremony and Healing in the Shadow of Violence” – 5:30 p.m., April 23 at the MSU Museum
The panels lead up to the highly anticipated exhibition at MSU: “Finding our Voice: Sister Survivors Speak,” which honors survivors’ continuing struggle to call public attention to sexual violence and to promote dignity, healing and positive transformation locally and globally. The exhibit, underwritten by Grewal Law PLLC, will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. on April 16 and will run through March 20, 2020.
For more information on the panels visit the MSU Museum’s website.