‘How I Learned to Drive’ revs up at RIT

‌

“Taking the Wheel: Prevention and Recovery from Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Assault” is a weeklong symposium beginning today at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Among the events, four productions of Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive are set for Thursday through Sunday in the Robert F. Panara Theatre. “Voices of Survivors,” an art and poetry display, will be in front of Panara Theatre an hour before show time, as will displays from area community resource centers.

“The subject matter is domestic sexual abuse. It was everywhere in the news this past year,” said David Munnell, visiting assistant professor of theater. “Maybe we can create a critical mass of interest so there’s some dialog created on campus and awareness raised. It’s appropriate for people to begin to address these issues. Everyone wants this to stop, to help people heal from it and to prevent it. But I’m not sure we’ve found the systems to do that.”

Other than the productions in Panara Theatre, all events will be free and open to the public:

• Noon–2 p.m. today: The Invisible War film screening, MOSAIC Center, SAU, 2510
• 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesday: Messages of Hope, with healing art, SAU Fireside Lounge
• Noon–1 p.m. Wednesday: Lessons from Leelah, lecture and discussion, MOSAIC Center, SAU, 2510
• 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday: How I Learned to Drive, production involving sexual abuse (intended for mature audiences). Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission through the RIT Box Office at 585-475-4121 or online at the RIT University Arenas Ticket Page.
• 3:45 p.m. Sunday: Post-show panel discussion in Panara Theatre, followed by closing reception in the Panara Theatre lobby at 4:30 p.m.

The event is being sponsored by RIT’s College of Liberal Arts in collaboration with the Office for Diversity Inclusion, the Center for Campus Life, the Center for Women and Gender and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Other groups involved include the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Student Life Team, Rochester Alternatives to Battered Women, Bivona Child Advocacy Center, and Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Victims.

For more information, contact David Munnell at dgmgsh@rit.edu.