Don't Skirt the Issue

DSTI was created to encourage college students to TALK about sexual violence among college women. Georgia Tech and Don’t SKIRT the Issue have established a partnership to get others TALKING. Talking about the issue of violence against women is the first step in recognizing the problem.

We are encouraging student groups and campus departments to get involved in Don’t Skirt the Issue.

Did you know?

• One in four women college students have been victims of rape or attempted rape (Koss, 1987, Finley and Corty, 1993).

• Every 2 minutes in America, someone is the victim of sexual violence

(RAINN Calculations based on 2000 National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice).

• According to U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice, fewer than five percent of sexual assaults or attempted sexual assault on college campuses are reported to the police. We want to INCREASE this number.

• Based on national averages for an institute of Georgia Tech’s size and population, each year, 676 incidents of sexual assault may occur at Georgia Tech (www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf).

• We are here to encourage SOCIAL ACTION. Your organization or department can get involved through donating pillowcases and wearing the handmade skirts. You may also choose to become more involved in VOICE and/or participate in selling the skirts. Your level of involvement is up to you. Participating will encourage others to TAKE ACTION regarding violence against women.

 Specific Information

Gather Pillowcases

Your organization or department can help by donating pillowcases. Old pillowcases can be donated from your home or purchased (either new or used from stores such as Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc). This promotes social action regarding sexual violence as well as a vehicle for providing information on sexual violence. Donation locations are: Women’s Resource Center , Danielle McDonald’s office, and the Wellness Center .

What will we do with the pillow cases?

We will send the skirts to DSTI headquarters, and community women, directly or indirectly affected by sexual violence, convert pillowcases to skirts. Pre-sewn skirts will be sent to us to sell on campus with Georgia Tech specific information attached.

Sell Skirts

The money raised from selling the skirts will go to VOICE programming and prevention efforts, with an additional portion of the proceeds going to survivors that sew the skirts, as well as other local and national educational programs.

 Postcards

Each skirt is attached with a postcard. Each postcard contains awareness statistics, Georgia Tech specific statistics, information on how to get involved, donation information for local education programs, and a web site address loaded with resources. 

Wearing of Skirts

Skirts are worn as a sign of support. We WANT you to talk about it. The postcards will help distribute information pertaining to sexual violence and what can be done to help stop it.

Don't SKIRT the Issue. VOICE it.