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'Yellow Dress,' other events to raise sexual assault awareness
The St. Cloud community is invited to try on "The Yellow Dress" this Wednesday as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities sponsored by Campus Advocates Against Sexual Assault.
"'The Yellow Dress' is a one person play that chronicles a young woman's story about a relationship that ends in tragedy," said CAASA member and fourth-year student Stephan Bulawski.
The play was produced and directed by Deana's Fund; a Stoneham, Mass.-based non-profit organization established by the family and friends of Deana Brisbois after her death in 1994 as a result of relationship violence. "The Yellow Dress," written by Deborah Lake Fortson and originally produced by Sydney Hayes Patton who also wrote the original music, is a dramatization of Deana's story.
"CAASA picked 'The Yellow Dress' because it looked the most interesting and fitting for our month of activities we are planning," Bulawski said.
Since early 1995, the organization has taught over 650,000 young people and adults across the United States. The play is semi-interactive, which allows the audience to more deeply involve themselves with the main character, Cindy, a freshman in college.
According to Executive Director of Deana's Fund, Sher Quaday, "The Yellow Dress" program is a good first step to developing an effective dating violence prevention program.
"'The Yellow Dress' is an incredibly powerful performance," Quaday said. "It is a great tool and when used together with a curriculum and other school and community efforts it has great potential to effectively reduce the incidence of teen dating violence."
The play, scheduled to take place Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in Kimberly A. Ritsche Auditorium, is one of several programs chosen by CAASA to enlighten and educate the community during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Sexual Assault in the Asian Community is a presentation by Yasuko Kamada from the Women's Center. The discussion, which takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Mississippi Room in Atwood April 15, will deal with ways of supporting friends and colleagues of various cultures experiencing crises.
"War Zone" is a video that depicts a female filmmaker who confronts men in Manhattan who make sexist remarks and asks them to explain their behavior. A discussion period will follow the viewing, which begins at 7 p.m. April 15 in Atwood Theater
Sexual Violence in Intersexual Relationships, a presentation by Lisa Bergin, will discuss the difference between violence in heterosexual relationships and the violence in intersexual and transgender relationships April 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Watab Room in Atwood.
Sexual Violence in the Prison System, a presentation by Adrece Thighman, will explore the living conditions for women in prisons and what can be done to help. It will take place 2-3 p.m. April 22 in the St. Croix Room, Atwood.
Sexual Assault and Disabilities, featuring Keith Piskur and Tracey White, will cover prevention and intervention specific to people with disabilities 2-3 p.m April 24 in Atwood's St. Croix Room.
Victimized, Alive and Revived will be an evening of musical talent, spoken word madness and an open-mic infused around sexual assault and sexuality beginning at 7 p.m. April 24 in the Atwood Quarry.
Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault, a discussion by Peggy LaDue, will deal with the ways adult survivors of child sexual abuse can cope and heal. The discussion begins at 1 p.m. April 24 in the Voyageur Room North in Atwood.
Kristen J. Kubisiak can be reached at: [email protected]
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