When the University of Maine at Presque Isle Baseball team takes the field at Husson University for their game against Newbury on Sunday, you might notice something a little different about their players. The UMPI players will be wearing eye-black, but not just any eye-black. The players will be sporting eye-black with the words “NO MORE,” because the team has dedicated this game to saying “no more” to domestic violence and sexual assault.
No More is a national campaign created in 2013 with the purpose of raising public awareness and engaging bystanders around domestic violence and sexual assault. This campaign was brought to the team’s attention by Hope and Justice Project, a resource center in Aroostook County for anyone who has been affected by abuse and violence, when a player reached out to the organization wanting to know more. Ghazaleh “Oz” Sailors is the only female NCAA baseball player this year and has become a champion for those affected by gender-based violence and harassment.
“Sports are important, but some things are bigger than the game. Like putting an end to domestic violence and sexual assault,” Sailors said. “The great thing about baseball is that it’s a team sport. We all have to work together. In the world today, we might not all play baseball, but together we can all strike out domestic violence and sexual assault.”
UMPI plays Newbury on Sunday, April 26 at 11 a.m. at Husson University in Bangor. To learn more about the No More campaign, visit www.nomore.org. To learn more about Hope and Justice Project, please visit www.hopeandjusticeproject.org orwww.facebook.com/hopeandjusticeproject. For other inquiries, please call Casey Faulkingham at 207-694-3005 or emailcasey@hopeandjusticeproject.org.