For the next two weeks, The Healthy Relationship and Violence Education organization is displaying their “What Were You Wearing?” art project in the Memorial Union. The project is intended to respond to the victim blaming that sexual assault survivors often face, according to Hilary Wallace, THRIVE graduate assistant and graduate art therapy and clinical counseling student.

The project originated in 2013 at the University of Kansas, by Jen Brockman, director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center, and Mary Wyandt-Hiebert, from the University of Arkansas. They granted THRIVE permission to recreate the project at Emporia State, according to Erin Bucker, THRIVE student worker and junior nursing major.

“What Were You Wearing?” involves stories of sexual violence and clothing representations of what survivors were wearing when they were assaulted, Wallace said.

The display consists of two outfits with a scenario printed out next to them. Each scenario is the story of a survivor of assault from other universities.

“What goes into it is the clothing a survivor wore during the incident and their story is sometimes posted with it,” said Mariah Emily, THRIVE member and senior psychology major. “I personally hope that viewers get that no matter the story or clothing, sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault. There is no explanation or excuse for a sexual assault to be committed.”

The display is especially important this year, following the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford at the hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, according to Wallace.

 “The climate of our nation following Dr. Blasey Ford’s testimony this (Sept. 27) has resulted in survivors feeling triggered, enraged, and supported to speak out about their own assaults,” Wallace said.

 As a program committed to creating and promoting a safe environment for the ESU community, THRIVE offers a variety of educational programs and outreach initiatives, according to their website.

 “THRIVE would like to remind the ESU students that the Student Wellness Center has free and unlimited counseling for all students,” Wallace said.

 They also host a weekly survivor support group on Thursdays in the Student Wellness Center, according to Wallace.

 “We strive to support survivors in the ESU community and hope they can find healing and community with THRIVE,” Wallace said.

Additionally, THRIVE, with the help of the Office of Diversity Student Programs, is hosting an event at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 22 in the PKP room of the MU, with the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project. KCAVP is a nonprofit corporation committed to providing domestic violence, sexual assault, and hate crimes advocacy and education to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, according to their website.