I would like to raise some concerns I have with the Erase The Grey campaign banners and posters that are plastered all over campus. Although I see that you are attempting to show solidarity with victims of sexual assault, in actuality all you are achieving is constantly reminding anyone who had been sexually assualted that they are victims, they were ignored and more specifically what people have said or they have said surrounding the offense.

At the end of the day, banners and posters aren't going to stop rapists or abusers, it is a very superficial campaign and it is clear the main purpose is showing the public and other universities that you are doing the "16 days of activism against gender based violence". Victims of sexual assault or abuse get absolutely nothing from these triggering posters except from bringing back up buried feelings. Things they weren't going to be thinking about on their way to class first thing in the morning or sitting in the canteen trying to enjoy lunch. These posters alone have caused me panic attacks, affected my study for the day and my mood for that day in general.

If you are trying to make actual change that may actually benefits victims of abuse or sexual assault, here are some suggestions that would be a valuable investment of your money: counselling made more available (more counsellors, reduce waiting list and offer more than only 6 sessions), offer courses for womens personal safety, free frequent womens self-defence classes, not just a token thing in "16 days". You could also make sports clubs/societies take consent workshops. Something that would really show support is making sexual assault a consequenced action in university by suspending or expeling perpretrators. These changes would show that you really do stand with victims of abuse/sexual assault on more than just a material level by supporting them, showing consequence for perpretrators and proving, through action, that this behaviour is not accepted in the university.

Please take into consideration that these posters are making your students uncomfortable and are harmful for the the people you put them up to benefit, the main impact they have is negatively impacting on and triggering victims. If the university would like to show its support, I understand the campaign is impactful, therefore it would be acceptable to show this campaign ONLY during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence unlike the 3 months that the campaign ran for last year which made coming to university a difficult experience.