Students to present ideas on addressing sexual assault at Tulane
An innovative new course called Project IX: Student Design to End Sexual Assault, launched this spring in conjunction with the Tulane University Wave of Change initiative. On Wednesday, May 2, students enrolled in the course will make their final presentations from 10 a.m. to noon in the first-floor atrium of the Goldring/Woldenberg Business Complex at the A.B. Freeman School of Business. The Tulane community is invited to attend.
Allison Schiller, design thinking project manager for the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking and instructor of Tulane’s Project IX course, explained that Project IX is a student-led project with student-designed solutions.
“Ten teams of students will present their solutions that address aspects of the problem of sexual assault at Tulane,” said Schiller. “Ideas range from a phone app for navigating the reporting process, to art installations and educational programming on campus that promote sex positivity and encourage healthy communication around consent.”
“Ideas range from a phone app for navigating the reporting process, to art installations and educational programming...”
Allison Schiller, instructor of Tulane’s Project IX course
In addition to the presentations, during which students will be available to discuss their findings in a poster session-style format, there will be a screening of a new documentary produced by local filmmaker Jalea Jackson that chronicles the design process of Project IX.
“The documentary details the process of students working together in a creative space to collaborate in designing solutions using a human-centered approach,” said Schiller. “The film includes student interviews describing how and why they have been involved in the project and their hopes for creating meaningful change on campus.”
The student teams will communicate their ideas on the topic areas of justice, community, education and dialogue. Schiller said senior administrators will be in attendance to hear—and consider—the students’ ideas.
