Assault victims speak out
with Clothesline Project
By Alicia Swan
Staff
Writer
T-shirts of every color will adorn the East Main
Lounge of the Purdue Memorial Union this week in a proclamation of strength.
The Clothesline Project is a chance for survivors
of abuse, rape or incest to declare their survival of physical and emotional
mistreatment.
All are welcome to decorate a shirt this week for
display at the Union that will be kept as a permanent remembrance by
YWCA.
The events entailed in the project commence with
opening ceremonies today from noon to 1 p.m. in the Great Hall of the
Union with several orators.
Speakers include Purdue president Martin Jischke,
Janet Wang of the YWCA, Cheryl Ubelhor of the Crisis Center, a rape
survivor and mayors Sonya Margerum and David Heath.
The project began in 1990 when survivors of assault,
rape and incest in Hyanis, Mass. spanned the town’s village green
with 31 T-shirts to proclaim their freedom from such encounters.
Many women who viewed it stepped forward and lengthened
the clothesline with their own T-shirts.
Today there are an estimated 35,000 shirts.
Each color represents a different type of assault
on women. White is for murder; yellow for assault; red for sexual assault;
blue for incest or the sexual abuse of children; and purple for lesbian-based
attacks.
Purdue’s clothesline will also display black,
which represents any type of assault on men.
"One of the great things about this project
is simplicity. Survivors don’t have to be artists to deliver a
powerful message," said Indra Everett, graduate assistant for Purdue
Student Union Board.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Purdue Memorial Union's
East Faculty Lounge the project will have the "Speak Out."
This is an opportunity for survivors of domestic violence and sexual
assault to share or listen to stories.
Karen Hall, director of the Woman’s Resource
Office, said that the "Speak Out" is more than it may seem.
"It’s not what some people visualize, not
a rally. It’s an opportunity for survivors and those who support
them to gather together and share anything they want to share. Whether
it's about what happened or how they are dealing in the healing process.
People may just want to listen; they may just want to see what happens."
The "Speak Out" is not open to the general public;
call the Women’s Resource Office for information.
Activities continue at 7 Wednesday evening in the
Union’s East Faculty Lounge. Two films will be shown with a discussion
to follow each. The films will discuss desire, sex and power in music
videos and women’s rights as people.
Women will gather at 7 p.m. Thursday on the Union’s
front lawn for the Take Back the Night March.
The Clothesline will hang until 3 p.m. Friday in
the Union.
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