By Emily Royalty
“Drawing the Shades” is coming to Fitchburg State University on Monday, April 25 in the Weston Auditorium.  There will be two performances, one at 3:30 p.m. for faculty and staff and another at 8 p.m. for students.  Admission is free.  The short play, which features a musical slide show, depicts the true stories of four students at Virginia Commonwealth University who were sexually assaulted.
The play, written by April L. Elliot, has been performed at numerous conferences and campuses since 1993.  According to the author, in addition to rape, “multi-cultural and sexual minority issues are also addressed.”
In the past two years, the play has been performed as part of orientation. “[It] has generated strong feedback,” according to President Antonucci. Antonucci writes in a message to the staff that the play is being performed “as part of our Fitchburg Anti-Violence Education (FAVE) initiative to increase awareness about sexual violence and to encourage vigilance in preventing it.”
Says Antonucci, “I am proud of the Fitchburg State community’s commitment to anti-violence initiatives and I encourage all offices to be represented at this event