Community unites to support victims
Erin McCarthy
Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: News
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The Clothesline Project, which began in Cape Cod, Mass. in 1990, is a visual representation of domestic violence and sexual assault against women and men. All of the T-shirts made this year, as well as T-shirts from past years, will be hung on display behind the University Union on April 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency Victim Services has participated in the Clothesline Project since 1996. This year's event is headed up by two women's studies students, Alexandra Westefer, senior women's studies major and Cara DeMarlie, junior broadcasting major. They decided to organize the event after their professor, Janice Welsch, called their feminist theory class to action.
Having transferred to Western Illinois from Southern Illinois University in pursuit of a degree in women's studies, Westefer feels a personal connection to the Clothesline Project.
"I was in a relationship where I was physically assaulted, so it prompted me to become an advocate for women and get the word out there," Westefer said. "I'm thankful that my experience wasn't as tragic as a lot of people, and it empowered me to know that I was strong enough to make it through."
During the Clothesline Project, Feminist Action Alliance, the Women's Center and WIRC-CAA Victim Services will have displays, and advocates will be available to speak with anyone.
"It can be pretty moving for some people," Westefer said. "Victim Services has 500 T-shirts from previous years, and most of them have very strong messages."
According to DeMarlie, making the T-shirt can be as therapeutic as the event itself.
"A lot of the people who are making T-shirts are victims, or friends or family of victims," DeMarlie said. "This can really be part of that healing process."
For the April 15 event, all of the T-shirts will be hung according to color, as the color of the shirt symbolizes the type of violence committed:
• White is for women who have died of violence;
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