Community members are asked to acknowledge domestic violence and take a stand against it today, as close to 400 shirts are being displayed on campus for the bi-annual Clothesline Project which began in 1990 .
People are also asked to take a pledge to not commit violence by signing their name and making a handprint for the “Hands are Not for Hurting” project, according to Heath Hubert, community educator for the Transformation Project.
The Hands are Not for Hurting project has been sponsored by the Transformation Project through the Women’s Center for the past four years.
The shirts bear a visual representation of women and their families and friends who have witnessed violence against women. Weather permitting, the shirts are being displayed on the education building lawn today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The rain location is 101 Olscamp. Rain location for the Hands are Not for Hurting is the Union lobby.
Each shirt color has a different representation. For example, white is for a woman who died because of an attack and red indicated survivors of rape or sexual assault.
“It’s important to raise awareness about violence against women so people can understand this is a serious issue,” said Rebecca Theis, victim advocate for the Transformation Project. “People can really see these shirts are from real and actual victims and read their story and their feelings.”
The impact of these projects is not only in what they signify, but also in the visual representations, according to Hubert.
“One of the amazing things about the project is you can see the process of healing because so many t-shirts were made at different points in people’s lives,” said Hubert. “It’s a tremendous awareness raising tool. It is modeled after a children’s program, but we wanted to take it further and spread the word in the campus community.”
For University Alumna Adrien Veitch, a victim of assault, the project does more than raise awareness; it also makes an important statement.
“The fact that it’s a clothesline is important. This is a way of airing out the dirty laundry, only this laundry is real,” said Veitch. “These shirts represent real women who are victims. I think it represents airing out society’s dirty laundry, but the project is open to interpretation, and that is what is great about it.”
People leave personal messages of hope and healing or of anger and hurt. Various stages in the healing process are displayed through the messages on the shirts.
“This is to raise awareness that violence is not the norm in our society. It wakes people up to realize, ‘Wow, it really does happen here,'” said Hubert. “The shirts send a variety of messages. One of the powerful things is you get to see the process of healing.”
T-shirt making sessions were also held this month, the last of which is tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. in 107 Hanna Hall. Supplies will be provided.
It’s important to realize that the Transformation Center and the county can help and have the resources available, Hubert said.
“It’s really heartening to me that we have a campus where people take these issues seriously and that there’s so many people on campus willing to speak out against violence,” said Hubert. “I encourage everyone to make a pledge against violence.”
The shirt collection is maintained by the SHARE program of The Phoenix Connection of Wood County. They are displayed twice a year on campus– in October for Domestic Violence Awareness month and in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The Wood County collection of shirts are displayed elsewhere throughout the year, including Owens Community College, the courthouse and by interested groups or organizations.
For more information visit www.clotheslineproject.com.
