Tamara Imam – Staff Writer
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On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Student Advocacy Rights and Conduct teamed up with Gender and Sexuality Diversity, a division of Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs, to host a NO MORE event in the Residence Life Center of Blazer Hall.
Launched in 2013, NO MORE is a national symbol and campaign to raise awareness and engage the public in the effort to end domestic violence and sexual assault. According to its website, 12.7 million people are physically abused, raped or stalked by their partners per year.
NO MORE is unique in that its signature symbol, a blue “O” is not owned by any singular organization, but can be used by anyone committed to helping end domestic violence and sexual assault.
UAB students who attended the NO MORE event in the RLC had the chance to speak with representatives from various community and campus entities dedicated to raising awareness and helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Representatives from the Young Women’s Christian Association of Central Alabama, SafeZone and Student Health and Wellness, the 1917 Clinic and the UAB Police Department all attended the event. Organizers reported that more than 100 students attended the event.
Student leaders engaged participants in interactive dialogue about domestic violence, sexual assault and issues surrounding gender and sexuality. The event featured a “Consent Wall,” which prompted participants with the statement “consent is…” and asked them to fill in the blank on a colorful sheet of paper to post on the wall. Attendees also responded to the prompt “I say no more because…” and had their responses posted on a wall as well as their pictures taken and posted on social media.
Melodi Stone, the Outreach and Services lead programmer for Gender and Sexuality Diversity Programs, led conversation through the “What would you do?” Situation Wall. Stone asked participants to read aloud scenarios surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault and gender and sexuality discrimination then choose which campus and community resources listed on the wall they would approach for help.
While UAB has held NO MORE events on campus in the past, this year’s event marked the first year that Gender and Sexuality Diversity Programs has co-hosted it.
“There has always been a gender component to the NO MORE Campaign because of Title IX, but today we’re taking a holistic approach to domestic violence and sexual assault issues by including gender and sexuality issues,” Stone said. “Sustainable change needs to come from cultural change from places like us [Gender and Sexuality Diversity Programs]. While Student Advocacy Rights and Conduct handles a lot of the legal side of things, we interact with students daily so we can bring about cultural change.”
After the event, students walked away with informational brochures, candy, t-shirts and other free merchandise from each of the organizations’ tables.
“This event helped me become more aware of the resources we have on campus for domestic violence and sexual assault victims,” student Paris McClendon said. “It was very eye-opening for me because I didn’t know that some of these resources even existed, and I feel like many other students didn’t either.”
Gender and Sexuality Diversity Programs encourages students to stop by their office in Rec 190 for more information.
