25th Annual Clothesline Project

25^th Annual Clothesline Project

By Weslie Hatch

            From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, SAAVY and the Center for Women and Gender held the 25^th Annual Clothesline Project in the Sunburst Lounge of the Taggart Student Center to raise awareness for domestic violence and abuse.

            In previous years, the Clothesline Project was staffed well, had big displays and saw large crowds. This year the Clothesline Project hasn’t seen those same numbers yet and it’s been a smaller event. That could be due to USU getting rid of Wednesday’s common hour. Each year, different groups and organizations have been involved. This year there were a few different groups such as CAPSA (Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency), AAEO (Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity), SAAVY (Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information), and the Center for Women and Gender. One other organization was The Family Place Utah.

            “SAAVY contacted us to set up a table so we can get our face out there and let people know what we offer and how we are there to help,” said the community liason or volunteer coordinator for The Family Place Utah (name disclosed). “SAAVY has such a great mission and it’s easy to work with them to reach out to those in need and to let people know that there is help out there.”

The event goes for three days and each day has a different theme. Today’s theme was Awareness Day. During the event, a student played the guitar while people walked around looking at the vendor’s tables and the clothesline of t-shirts. While guests walked around learning how to raise awareness, a gong, whistle, and cowbell were periodically being played over a loud speaker representing each time someone in the United States was being assaulted (gong), sexually assaulted (whistle), or murdered due to domestic violence (cowbell).

            The t-shirts were made by victims of domestic violence and abuse themselves or by friends and family of victims. The t-shirts display images and words that are representative of each victim and their abuse.

            “I am a big advocate for women,” said Stephanie Bagnell, the program coordinator for the Center for Women and Gender. “I believe in making a difference. I love seeing women get out of these abusive cycles and become empowered.”

            Bagnell said she hopes the next two days of the event will see more traffic and she hopes the event will help raise more awareness as well as get more people to become involved.

            The event will continue with tomorrow being Prevention Day and Survivor Day on Thursday where there will be a panel of domestic violence and abuse survivors ready to answer questions at 4 p.m. in the sunburst lounge.

            More information can be found by contacting Stephanie Bagnell at Stephanie.bagnell@usu.edu or (435) – 797 – 3703.