On Tuesday, April 4, Loyola’s chapter of The Clothesline Project will host its first annual event which seeks to gather people in solidarity to support victims who have been affected by all partner-based violence.

The Clothesline Project is a national organization that was created in 1990 as a way for women to express their feelings regarding domestic, relationship, and sexual abuse. Survivors and allies share their stories and raise their voices through the decoration of a T-shirt, which is then hung on a clothesline for others to see and to raise awareness for these issues. The organization acts as a safe space for survivors and allies of violence all over the world.

“Our role as the Loyola chapter of The Clothesline Project is to continue the conversation about these many forms of violence through the empowerment of our women and their allies [and] loved ones that have been affected,” president Samantha Caroleo ’17 said.

Loyola’s Clothesline Project installation, which will take place on the Quad during Sexual Assault Awareness Week, will feature the t-shirts that have been anonymously decorated by survivors and victims of violence and allies. The day-long event will be followed by a reflection at 5:30 p.m. on the Quad.

Caroleo hopes that the installation will encourage others to support these survivors and victims.

“While sexual and physical assault are the topics we often direct our attention to on college campuses, we believe it is important to recognize that there are women around us that are subjected to the emotional, mental, and verbal abuse of domestic and relationship violence,” Caroleo said.

The group held two T-shirt decorating nights on March 28 and 29 to prepare for their event. For those who are still interested in decorating, Caroleo suggests that you contact her in order to pick up a few T-shirts. This is also how survivors who wish to decorate a shirt in private have been able to participate in the event.

Loyola’s chapter held a T-shirt drive beginning on Feb. 21. They collected new and used unwanted t-shirts of all sizes and colors. These shirts were displayed around Boulder Atrium as a way to raise awareness about violence.

The collection drive has not yet ended, though. T-shirt donations can be made at the drop boxes found in Campus Ministry, the Women’s Center, the Psych Department, and the Writing Center. All locations will be accepting donations until the event on April 4.

“If I leave nothing else behind at Loyola but the space for voices to be heard, then the start of The Clothesline Project is more than enough for me,” Caroleo said.

Feature Image: FergieFam007 Photo, Courtesy of Flickr