Dear Reader,
Thank you for thinking to open
this zine. Please know that all of the pieces in this work are from both named and anonymous members of the UMBC community who identify as survivors of sexual and power-based violence.
The Women’s Center had the distinct honor and privilege to join these powerful stories together into our first ever Sexual Assault Awareness Month zine, “Survivors to the Front: A Call to Action.”
This zine was certainly not our first plan for this school year. Rather, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were beginning preparation for another Clothesline Project Display and another Take Back the Night. Unfortunately, this year, we are not able to bring folks together in our traditional events; however, that does not halt our commitment to building a platform for survivors to tell their stories.
Our title, “Survivors to the Front: A Call to Witness,” is inspired by the traditions of UMBC’s Take Back the Night: we ask survivors to lead our march through campus and we ask all others to bear witness to the collective strength, power, and diversity of our experiences. Just so, we ask you, reader, to witness our stories and our art. We ask you to hold space for our deeply embedded, massively private memories. We ask you to wind your way through this zine and take in every word and every pencil mark. We ask you to witness.
But know this: these are only a fraction of each of our stories—as our stories are still being written.
Before you begin, a content note: the stories, experiences, and memories that make up this zine detail real peoples’ real worlds. Potentially triggering content includes discussion of sexual violence, abuse, physical violence, self-harm, suicidality, homicidality, eating disorders, and drug use.
We produce this work for people to read and take in, but please do so with a mind towards your own health and well-being. This text will be available any time, so if you need to take a break, please do so, and know that:
We see you. We believe you. You matter.
If you find that you need support, please know that you’re not alone. See below for on- and off-campus resources that are available to you.
In solidarity & resilience,
The Women's Center at UMBC and Our Contributors
On-Campus Resources Available for Virtual Support:
To report a complaint of sexual misconduct or discrimination, please submit this online form.
Off-Campus Resources:
TurnAround, Inc. Helpline (Available 24/7): 443-279-0379; Office: 410-377-8111
MCASA is still open and supporting survivors.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 24/7, confidential and free: 800-656-HOPE (4673) and through chat.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 24/7, confidential and free: 1-800-799-7233 and through chat.
Visit Retriever Courage for a more extensive list of off-campus resources and support
