It's Not That Simple

Thank you for investing in interdisciplinary artists who recognize the gravity of sexual assault. Though our campaign is over, if you would still like to contribute to It’s Not That Simple, gifts can now be made here: www.asufoundation.org/ints.

Why it matters Rape culture on college campuses is a systemic issue across the country.

One in four college women will experience sexual assault during their academic career. This issue is even more pertinent on ASU's campus, which was one of the first 50 schools to be investigated by the FBI during a probe into how sexual assault is handled on college campuses. With all the attention that sexual assault garners, there is a high need to actively engage the community in an open conversation around what needs to change. There are already national and local efforts to spark dialogue and It's Not That Simple takes it one step further. It's Not That Simple It's Not That Simple exposes a new narrative around an issue that is traditionally taboo and unaddressed. We put faces and voices to statistics by sharing real stories embodied in our performers. We are a group of interdisciplinary artists who recognize the gravity of sexual assault. Because of our backgrounds, we firmly believe in the power that performance has to cultivate social change. Our efforts have resulted in the creation and reiterations of It's Not That Simple. We are raising funds to increase the production value of the performance, provide stipends for our creative team, and broaden our marketing reach to those who need to hear the message. Keep up to date on the rehearsal process and the campaign by visiting our event pages on FaceBook.

History of It's Not That Simple

It's Not That Simple started as a means of using performance as a way to raise awareness on the issue of sexual assault on college campuses. The first performance took place at the University of Maine in 2008, at which time the director, Molly W. Schenck, noticed the extreme impact it had on the performers' personal lives. One performer shared that he had recurring dreams in which he would reach out to help someone in a violent situation and his hands would turn to sand. Several other performers discussed sleep disturbances and adopting the behavioral symptoms of their characters. After observing the vicarious trauma several performers experienced, the director revived the performance in 2011 to embark upon a more in-depth study of the impact on performers and audiences. The findings of this research were presented at the SCOPE (School and College Organization for Prevention Educators) national conference and highlighted in an article about bystander intervention in the publication "Inside Higher Ed" Check out the article by clicking here! The 2016 version of INTS will be a part of Schenck's MFA applied project. In addition to the performance, Schenck is continuing her research on the impact of this show on those involved.