Sept. 25, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maya Andlig
(805) 756-6749
Shoe Art Exhibit on Dexter Lawn Represent College Crime Survivors
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- The Cal Poly Women's Center SAFER program is
exhibiting an art installment on Dexter Lawn from Monday, Sept. 27, to
Wednesday, Oct. 6.
The installment, which is created by rows of shoes in groups of four,
may not be immediately self-explanatory. "One in four college women
are
survivors of rape or attempted rape during their college years,
explains Kara Groth, a Cal Poly junior and student co-coordinator of
the SAFER program.
Utilizing shoes donated by students, faculty, staff
and Goodwill, the project will represent the 1-in-4 statistic with
every fourth pair of shoes painted red. "The variety of shoes
presented in our display represents all the different types of people
found on Cal Poly's campus. There are over a hundred pairs of shoes
that will be lined up on Dexter lawn," Groth said.
Tara Thompson, co-coordinator of the SAFER
program with Groth, added, "We want people to imagine
co-workers, friends classmates and neighbors filling these shoes and
every fourth person a rape survivor, and remember it can happen to
anyone."
Students or faculty who have experienced sexual assault are encouraged
to bring their own shoes to the Women's Center to be added to the
display.
"It is important for everyone to be part of the solution by
bringing an end to the silence," says Women's Center Director Maya
Andlig. "I hope people will feel comfortable being part of this
collaborative piece of art."
###