Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Ben Atherton-Zeman" <>]

Original article at http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F201006090429%2FWDH0101%2F6090562, including a photo of one of the home-made shirts that says (shudder) “Stop Abuse.” 

 

Kudos to sophomore Samantha Zyduck and the other four students for refusing to stop wearing the shirts! 

 

MOSINEE -- Five Mosinee High School students were silenced one week ago when school administrators confiscated homemade T-shirts speaking out in support of sexual assault awareness.

The students -- two seniors and three underclassmen -- created homemade T-shirts bearing a stop sign and the words "Stop Abuse." Each of the shirts was created using fabric paint and included a different sexual assault statistic written on the back.

"The shirts were teal, the color of sex-assault awareness, and were within the limits of the school's dress code. We did nothing that was offensive," said sophomore Samantha Zyduck, 16, one of the T-shirt-wearing students at Mosinee High School.

The other students contacted, ranging in age from 14 to 18, declined to comment for this story.

After complaints about the shirts were filed June 2 with Dennis Kaczor, the school's acting associate principal, Kaczor asked the students to stop wearing the shirts, but they refused, he said.

"Any school in Wisconsin can limit the dress code if an item is creating a disruption, and the shirts were upsetting some students," Kaczor said. "We were just heading into our final exam period and didn't want a constant distraction for our other students."

On top of that, the students failed to go through the proper administrative channels to get approval to wear the shirts, said Joe Prillwitz, one of Mosinee High School's guidance counselors.

Instead of having the shirts turned inside out or sending the students home, Kaczor confiscated the shirts, telling the students they would get them back today, the last day of the school year for underclassmen.

"I'm all for educating students on this topic, but I think it should be done during the month of awareness using pamphlets and fliers from an established organization. That would add some substance to the cause," Kaczor said.

Prillwitz said he knew about the students' plans to make the T-shirts and advised them to go through the proper administrative channels before wearing them.

"I asked them to get permission from administration and to be sensitive of others' feelings and they did not do that. It was more like a crusade," Prillwitz said. "Sexual Assault Awareness Month is in April. Why didn't they choose to do this stuff then?"

 

 

Until the violence stops, Ben.  

 

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Maynard, MA USA
Actor, Comedian, Feminist and Husband
Presenting a One-Man Play: "Voices of Men," Educational Theatre for Sexual/Domestic Violence Prevention - video excerpts at http://www.voicesofmen.org

Booking information: 978-897-3619

 

June, 2010: Please come to the NCADV/NOMAS conference, July 30-August 4 in Anaheim, California!  The National Organization for Men Against Sexism http://www.nomas.org is honored to work together with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence http://www.ncadv.org for this conference. 

 

I am honored to be performing my new play, “Men’s Monologues Against Violence” on Saturday night, July 30 – the play is inspired by Eve Ensler’s “Vagina Monologues” and features true stories of men and boys who have taken specific actions to help stop male violence and sexism. 

 

Hope to see you there!