WETM News Story: "Changing The Script" performance in Elmira, NY

ELMIRA, (WETM) – The Self-Love Youth Project made their debut today at the Community Arts Building in Elmira. This is the 2nd Annual Self-Love Youth Project for Safezones and projectCAP. 

The youth group performed Changing The Script, a play based on stories written and performed by local youth in the area. Changing the Script is produced and directed by the iconic Tim Collins. The play also received contributions from and featured ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes. 

This creative expression project is open to youth from grades 7-12 and allows for a safe and collaborative environment for young students.

Oneida Daily Dispatch article: "Standing By, Standing Up takes hard look at school bullying."

Oneida Daily Dispatch article: "Standing By, Standing Up takes hard look at school bullying."

“This interactive play features compelling characters and passes along an important message in an entertaining and engaging way,” said Meagan Gillander, the OPL’s Youth Services Coordinator.

SUNY Cortland article: Relationship Violence Intervention Week Planned featuring Tim Collins Solo Performer

SUNY Cortland article:  Relationship Violence Intervention Week Planned featuring Tim Collins Solo Performer

“Tim is a master at taking on different personas… he does a lot to promote healthy masculinity and helps people help friends who might be in difficult situations in relationships.”

Marist College student newspaper article about THE SCRIPT

From The Groundhog, Marist College’s student newspaper:

Marist College hosts one-man-show “THE SCRIPT”

Written By: Jay Rose
Sep 17, 2018 

Sexual Assault has plagued college campuses across the country for generations, and according to recent studies, has tripled in the last decade. Which seems contradictory, considering the countless TED talks, seminars, and general awareness raised around the nation in recent years towards the matter.

So then what exactly is the matter? How has the issue only continued to fester the last 10 years?

The stage is set, the lights dimmed. Tim Collins: national advocate against sexual assault opens his one-man play with the confounding question: why does sexual assault happen?

He goes on to give an eye- opening performance, portraying separate perspectives on a case of campus sexual assault. With just himself, Collins was able to showcase the different types of bystanders and toxic masculinity some men portray when faced with this epidemic. 

Over the talk was a call to fight the status quo. Collins continued the talk with a focus on Consent and its necessity. “Let's face it, some people still don’t understand that ‘no’ doesn’t mean ‘yes.’”

Following this was a discussion on why we (as a campus) think this still happens, and how accountable should we be holding ourselves to prevent this from happening, or at the least intervene.

After the talk, some people gave incentive to how this impacted them.

“It’s so strange to think that something like assault could be happening in the room across from you, and you could never even know”, one student recalled walking out of the Nelly Golletti. “We should be looking out for each other more, we would want someone else to do the same, after all.”

Sexual assault has gone on throughout campuses across the U.S, Marist being no exception.  The Script, however, is perhaps the start of a real and powerful discussion about the topic seen on campus. The talk seemed to be very popular and would serve the Marist Community well in keeping the conversation going by bringing back Tim Collins and his powerful presentations.

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DeSmet Jesuit High School article about THE SCRIPT

DeSmet Jesuit High School article about THE SCRIPT

“I thought the play was done very well, I’ve never seen a one-man show before, but he gave us a bunch of characters that can relate to everyone in the audience,” senior Will Martin said. “I thought the ways he showed how we can prevent sexual assault and not be a bystander were helpful. He really gave us insight on that.”