“Dear Colleagues: Title IX Exhibition” displayed in Simpson Library

KATY ROSE PRICE Staff Writer

From March 6 to April 28, Simpson Library is displaying historical items and information to recognize Women’s History Month and the recent 50-year anniversary of the 1972 Title IX Education Amendment. The charge for the exhibition was led by the Director of the Center for Prevention and Education Marissa Miller and sponsored by UMW Athletics, the Office of Title IX and ADA Compliance and Simpson Library.

“When we think about 50 years, the stuff that made the news highly focused on athletics,” said Miller. “I don’t think people know that the law wasn’t created for that. But it ended up changing sports for women and girls across the country—it made some major strides.”

Walking through the double doors into the library, students are met with an array of multicolored images and objects, stacks of “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller, a timeline documenting Title IX’s history and a hand-constructed “50,” made up of a collage of UMW’s memorable achievements related to gender equality. There are also two pieces in the exhibit commissioned by a local artist, Isla Berge McFadden.

The exhibition also includes information regarding Sexual Assault Awareness Month, occurring in April, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, occurring in October. One side of the exhibit is focused on the history of Title IX, Miller said, and the other side is focused on activism and campaigns.

The exhibit displays information about activism and campaigns, led by and participated in by UMW students, including Denim Day, Take Back the Night, the Red Sand Project, The Clothesline Project and Step Up!, all of which focus on education, awareness, prevention and intervention for survivors of sexual violence.

On the activism side of the exhibit, there’s a microphone to represent Take Back the Night demonstrations. During Take Back the Night, “individuals usually speak out about their experiences and encouraging folks to shatter the silence and kind of break the cycle and come forward and start your healing process in a way,” said Miller. “That’s my favorite side in terms of having it represent the different things that acknowledge our space.”

SEE EXHIBITION PAGE 7