2008 Woodie Awards
Clothesline project hangs awareness for all to see
Tatianah Green
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Features
On a warm day good for wearing t-shirts, students made some of their own in protest of sexual violence. Feminists United and Men Against Sexual Violence teamed up to take part in the national movement called the Clothesline Project Thursday.
In light of the senseless violence against women in Chicago recently, the Clothesline Project is an important and creative demonstration at UIC. The Clothesline Project (CLP) is a program that began in Cape Cod, MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for those affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women.
"The T-shirts are stories of survivors and advocates," said Tara Theobald, co-president of Feminists United. Theobald shared the concept of the Clothesline Project as airing the "dirty laundry" of domestic and sexual violence against women to make it open.
Among the dozens of shirts already on the lines outside the second floor of BSB, students came to observe and add their own message to the project. Kevin Mei, a sophomore in Biological Sciences and Finance, created a shirt with the message: "We are not mail-order brides." Mei chose that message because he wanted to bring awareness about sexual discrimination, addressing the stereotype that Asian women are complacent, submissive mail-order brides. Mei likes the message that the Clothesline Project brings and plans to participate next year as well.
Donelly Davila, a third-year in applied psychology, created a shirt in support of the project. "A lot of people cannot express themselves [and] for all people who cannot stop it (violence), I am making a shirt for them," says Davila. Her shirt read "Day of Silence" in support of the Day of Silence movement by the OGLBTC (Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns) that took place Friday.
For those who want to get involved in Feminists United events, check out their website: www.uic.edu/depts/wsweb/feminists/. Students and staff who have been victims of sexual violence, stalking, hate crimes, and domestic violence can receive support from CAN, the Campus Advocacy Network at UIC. Located on the 8th floor of University Hall, the network is available for those in need. Men Against Sexual Violence is a UIC group of men who take a stand against sexual violence, regardless of the race or gender. Both MASV and FU hold meetings throughout the year on campus.
For more information on the Clothesline Project, check out the website: clotheslineproject.org.
In light of the senseless violence against women in Chicago recently, the Clothesline Project is an important and creative demonstration at UIC. The Clothesline Project (CLP) is a program that began in Cape Cod, MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for those affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women.
"The T-shirts are stories of survivors and advocates," said Tara Theobald, co-president of Feminists United. Theobald shared the concept of the Clothesline Project as airing the "dirty laundry" of domestic and sexual violence against women to make it open.
Among the dozens of shirts already on the lines outside the second floor of BSB, students came to observe and add their own message to the project. Kevin Mei, a sophomore in Biological Sciences and Finance, created a shirt with the message: "We are not mail-order brides." Mei chose that message because he wanted to bring awareness about sexual discrimination, addressing the stereotype that Asian women are complacent, submissive mail-order brides. Mei likes the message that the Clothesline Project brings and plans to participate next year as well.
Donelly Davila, a third-year in applied psychology, created a shirt in support of the project. "A lot of people cannot express themselves [and] for all people who cannot stop it (violence), I am making a shirt for them," says Davila. Her shirt read "Day of Silence" in support of the Day of Silence movement by the OGLBTC (Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns) that took place Friday.
For those who want to get involved in Feminists United events, check out their website: www.uic.edu/depts/wsweb/feminists/. Students and staff who have been victims of sexual violence, stalking, hate crimes, and domestic violence can receive support from CAN, the Campus Advocacy Network at UIC. Located on the 8th floor of University Hall, the network is available for those in need. Men Against Sexual Violence is a UIC group of men who take a stand against sexual violence, regardless of the race or gender. Both MASV and FU hold meetings throughout the year on campus.
For more information on the Clothesline Project, check out the website: clotheslineproject.org.
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