A woman is sexually assaulted every 45 seconds, but only one assault in 10 is reported, according to the FBI. To raise awareness of these statistics, Do Something Now fashioned the “Every 45 Seconds” tank top.
Do Something Now was spawned from the minds — and pockets — of University of Cincinnati seniors Regina Schnieder and Jaleen Francois. The two students founded the organization last year after attending the 2001 Young Women’s Health Summit. Their goal is to combat sexual assault in Greater Cincinnati.
The “Every 45 Seconds” tank top is a wearable reminder of the threat women face. The group is donating proceeds from the sale to Women Helping Women, which trains volunteers to aid assault victims during hospital exams to collect evidence of rape.
Women Helping Women can only hold the Hospital Accompaniment Training twice a year, according to Schnieder.
“Our goal is for Women Helping Women to have the resources necessary to offer this program 4 times a year,” she says.
Do Something Now is not selling the tank tops only to college students.
“I really want to hit the high school market,” Schnieder says.
A freshman at St. Ursula High School has volunteered to sell tank tops at her school.
“We want to see women in bars and on the street wearing these tank tops,” Schnieder says. “We want people to ask what it means in order to pass on the statistic and spread awareness.”
Do Something Now has sold more than 100 tank tops since June.
“People’s support of the tank top program has been amazing,” Schnieder says. “So many people have been so supportive and attracted to it.”
The “Every 45 Seconds” T-shirt is coming soon.
Do Something Now helped organize Take Back the Night at UC Nov. 22, which featured award-winning poet Sarah Jones (see Porkopolis).
For more information about Do Something Now or to buy “Every 45 Seconds” tank tops, visit www.dosomethingnow.com.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2002.