The Michigan State University Museum and The Army of Survivors have partnered to launch a roundtable discussion series to raise awareness and provide education on the effects of sexual violence. The series will kick off on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. Four sessions will be held at the MSU Museum and one session will be held at the MSU Detroit Center.

Museum Director Mark Auslander remarks, “The Museum is delighted to be partnering with the Army of Survivors, an important advocacy organization for survivors of sexual violence. We are especially delighted that sister survivors will be participating in every one of these sessions, in conversation with scholars, practitioners, and other advocates.”

The five-panel series, which will continue into the spring, will touch on topics including trauma, consent, and healing. The discussions will also explore resisting sexual violence through a racial justice lens, and journalism coverage through a sexual violence crisis. Panelists include Kate Wells from Michigan Radio’s podcast “Believed,” Rebecca Campbell, a MSU professor of psychology known for her research pertaining to sexual assault and violence against women and children, and survivor and advocate Amanda Thomashow, who filed the title IX investigation against Nassar in 2014.

“It’s incredibly exciting to continue the conversation around such an important topic,” said Grace French, Founder of The Army of Survivors. The Army of Survivors, which was founded by some of the survivors of Larry Nassar, is a non-profit in the making committed to bringing awareness to the systematic problem of sexual abuse. “With these panels, I hope that MSU and the Michigan community can continue to learn about the effects of sexual violence, and go out to make impactful change,” says French. For more information on the panels visit: https://www.museum.msu.edu/?exhibition=finding-our-voice-sister-survivors-speak

MSU MUSEUM SPEAKER SERIES SCHEDULE

“Understanding Trauma: Scientific, Clinical, and Interpretive Perspectives on Sexual Violence”
Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Museum

“Understanding Consent: Legal and Ethical Perspectives on Sexuality and Sexual Violence”
Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Museum

“Resisting Sexual Violence through a Racial Justice Lens: Toward Inclusive Transformation”
*Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m., at the MSU Detroit Center, 408 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201

“Covering the Crisis: Journalism and Sexual Violence”
Tuesday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Museum

“Repair: Art, Ceremony, and Healing in the Shadow of Violence”
Tuesday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Museum

“Spoken Word Event: Celebrating Sister Survivors” 
Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00 pm.  at the MSU Museum

The panels lead up to the highly anticipated exhibition at MSU: “Finding our Voice: Sister Survivors Speak,” which honors the survivors’ continuing struggle to call public attention to sexual violence, and to promote dignity, healing, and positive transformation locally and globally. The exhibit, underwritten by Grewal Law PLLC, will open to the public on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. and will run through March 20, 2020.