Members of Thursdays in Black were ready for a chat with any students passing by.
OUSA-affiliated club Thursdays in Black has been nominated for a Blues and Golds Award for its work in the University community.
The Blues and Golds Awards are an annual event run by the University and OUSA to celebrate sporting and cultural achievements. Silver awards acknowledge the exceptional work done by students within the community.
Thursdays in Black co-director Caitlin Braun says members of the club feel “super lucky and grateful” to have been nominated for an award.
“It is such an honour. It is a privilege to be nominated and so nice knowing that all the energy, mahi, and time that all of our wonderful exec have invested for such an important cause is being recognised.”
Thursdays in Black has been an OUSA-affiliated club since 2019.
“We advocate for healthy communities and a world free from sexual harm,” Caitlin says.
“It’s our goal to raise awareness about sexual harm in our community and create a supportive and proactive culture.”
The club aims to empower people, promote positive sexual health and engage the community. It does this through creating educational and creative content and hosting events.
Caitlin says the club has been really active this year, having held a community hui to discuss sexual harm on campus and university culture, hosted a workshop for the Women in Health Network Empowerment Conference, co-hosted a stall with Te Whare Tāwharau for its awareness week and held ‘A Very Sexy Sex Quiz’ with UniQ.
The funds raised from the quiz have gone towards the club’s annual ‘What I Was Wearing’ event to be held on 26 September.
“This exhibition aims to breakdown negative stereotypes and rape myths,” Caitlin says.
“Through members of our community sharing their stories of harm and empowerment, we are able to show it is not about what you were wearing. What you were wearing is never to blame, it is whatever you want it to be.”
The club has also started a monthly newsletter which Caitlin says has been a fun journalistic opportunity and a new avenue via which to engage its members and volunteers.
Thursdays in Black has 14 executive members and 103 members. Caitlin invites people to join the club in wearing black on Thursdays and follow it on Facebook page ‘TiB Otago’ or Instagram @thursdaysinblackotago . Anyone wanting to contact Thursdays in Black can do so via their email tibotago@gmail.com
This year’s Blues and Golds Awards evening will be held on 25 September.