McMaster online zine aims to empower survivors of sexual violence through art

A group of McMaster University students is asking survivors of sexual violence - and their supporters - to submit art, poetry and other creations for a first-of-its-kind online magazine.

Called Colours of Solidarity, the project is a continuation of an initiative that began two years ago when students in a health sciences class were given a broad assignment: bring to life an idea you are interested in. The finished product was a live, interactive art event during which survivors of sexual violence were given the opportunity to express themselves through art.

A repeat event was meant to happen last year, but COVID got in the way.

This year, four Bachelor of Health Sciences students are taking the project online with the creation of a self-published magazine - or zine."

Steffi Arkilander, one of the four project co-leads, who is also a survivor of sexual violence, said she hopes the zine offers survivors a space to feel heard."

Being able to have an outlet to express how you're feeling and deal with the emotions that you're feeling is really important," Arkilander said. She participated in the 2019 event, calling it an empowering experience."

She also hopes the project creates a sense of community, something everyone - but especially survivors - needs during the pandemic.

Using the same premise as the first iteration of the assignment, the group is asking survivors and supporters of survivors throughout Hamilton to share creative work that is an expression of their feelings about, or response to, sexual violence.

The content of the submission is largely up to the submitter.

It definitely can be directly related to the event of sexual violence if that's what they want to write or draw or create," Arkilander said. It can be about the aftermath of what had happened or the emotions you deal with after or hearing about sexual violence within media and your emotions regarding that."

Co-lead Sowmithree Ragothaman said she hopes the project gives survivors a chance to reclaim" their story, controlling what they share and how they share it.

Often times, even when stories of survivors are highlighted in the media, or just talked about by general society, I don't feel like the survivor is centred in that situation ... which is incredibly wrong to me," said Ragothaman, who identifies as a supporter of survivors. I feel like the survivor, as the person who actually experienced that situation, should be the one whose voice is most empowered."

Indeed, there has been intense media coverage of sexual violence at McMaster over the past year.

This past summer, police arrested a professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB), Scott Watter, and charged him with sexual assault and sexual assault causing bodily harm - a female student was the complainant. In the weeks that followed, the university launched an investigation into more allegations of sexual violence within the PNB department. It ultimately uncovered systemic and cultural issues" within the department that let inappropriate behaviours go unchecked." Most recently, in March, police charged Christopher McAllister, a university staff member with links to the PNB department, with sexual assault.

Advocates for survivors of sexual violence say rape culture is pervasive at McMaster and within university environments in general. It is not limited to any one department, they say.

Amid the PNB investigation, The Spectator conducted a months-long investigation into McMaster's handling of sexual violence. The reporting revealed the university fails survivors and protects perpetrators. Arkilander was one of the survivors who spoke out about the university's shortcomings.

How to submit

Those interested in submitting a piece for consideration can contact group co-leads Arkilander, Ragothaman, Zahra Abdallah and Ana Lopez at solidaritysubmissions@gmail.com, or on Facebook and Instagram at @coloursofsolidarity.

Submissions are open to survivors and supporters throughout Hamilton. Submissions can be published anonymously.

There is no firm deadline but the group hopes to receive submissions before the end of April.

Resources for survivors of sexual violence:

SACHA Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area: 24-hour support line 905-525-4162; www.sacha.ca.

McMaster University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office: svpro@mcmaster.ca; svpro.mcmaster.ca.

McMaster Students Union Women and Gender Equity Network (WGEN): wgen@msu.mcmaster.ca; msumcmaster.ca/service/wgen.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com