Marist hosts one-man-show “The Script”

[ photo taken from https://timcollinsonline.com/ ]

Sexual Assault has plagued college campuses across the country for generations, and according to recent studies, has tripled in the last decade. Which seems contradictory, considering the countless ted talks, seminars, and general awareness raised around the nation in recent years towards the matter.

So then what exactly is the matter? How has the issue only continued to fester the last 10 years?

The stage is set, the lights dimmed. Tim Collins: national advocate against sexual assault opens his one-man act with the bewildering question: why does sexual assault happen?

Murmurs flood the already packed Nelly Goletti Theatre. When no brave soul responds: Collins gives the helpful hints of “Responsibility, accountability, but really.. It boils down to toxic masculinity and The Bystander Effect ”.

He goes on to give an eye-opening performance, portraying separate perspectives on a case of campus sexual assault. With just himself, Collins was able to showcase the different types of bystanders and toxic masculinity men portray when faced with this epidemic. [photo taken from https://timcollinsonline.com/portfolio-item/the-script/

Over the talk was a constant “need to fight the status quo”. Collins continued the talk with a heavy priority over consent and its necessity. “Let's face it, people still don’t understand that no doesn’t always mean yes”

Following this was a discussion on why we (as a campus) think this still happens, and how accountable should we be holding ourselves to prevent this from happening, or at the least intervene.

After the talk, some people gave incentive to how this impacted them.

“ Its so strange to think that something like assault could be happening in the room across from you, and you could never even know”, one student recalled walking out of the Nelly Golletti. “ We should be looking out for each other more, we would want someone else to do the same after all.”

Sexual assault has gone on throughout campuses across the U.S, Marist being no exception. The Script, however, is perhaps the start of a real and powerful discussion about the topic seen on campus. The talk seemed to be very popular and would serve The Marist Community well in keeping the conversation going through talks like this one.