Today is a day for those with silenced voices to finally speak
out.
The Clothesline Project, featuring an exhibit of hundreds of
T-shirts made by victims of sexual violence to increase awareness
regarding gender and sexually based violence, will be on display at
the Schoenberg Quad starting early in the morning and lasting
through Thursday.
“Every year we set up a display of T-shirts made by
survivors as a way to break their silence and educate the UCLA
community,” said Stephanie Joynt, executive chair of the
Clothesline Project. “We look to include men and women,
survivors and non-survivors. We believe sexual violence affects
everyone’s lives.”
The resource tables and workshops that are shown to the
thousands that typically attend the event every year are the result
of much planning.
“We have a student commission of 40 people who meet every
week,” Joynt said. “The Clothesline Project is
one-of-a-kind.”
Many students on campus say they feel such a display is
necessary to increase common knowledge regarding such crimes.
“In general there are a lot of sexually abused people who
are afraid to reach for help,” said Lillian Lok, a
fourth-year political science student. “They need someone
they can go to. It’s a really good cause.”
Some students believe that not enough people on campus know
about sexual and gender violence.
“People don’t think much about it unless they have
someone they know, but they should,” said Kathryn Cole, a
second-year political science student.
Others commented on how people know about gender and sexual
awareness but need a public display to remind them of its every day
relevance.
“People know about the crimes but aren’t reminded of
them unless it happens to someone they’re close to,”
said Brian Augustyn, a third-year psychobiology student.
Students say people should attend the Clothesline Project
whether or not they have been affected.
“It’s quite a statement they’re making,”
said Carrie-Lynn Morgan, a first-year undeclared student.
“Personally, I’m going to go and see it.”
Signs and posters regarding sexual and gender violence have also
started cropping up around public areas.
The Clothesline Project is not alone in its efforts to increase
awareness.
“We collaborate with Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center
and Long Beach Sexual Assault Crisis Agency, and they display their
shirts with our shirts,” Joynt said.
Fraternities on campus have also banded together to help
decrease gender and sexual crime.
“Greeks to Stop Rape, through collaboration with other
programming, has started to help and create that many more
resources,” Joynt said.
Clothesline Project is not the only event that has been held
this year to increase awareness.
Denim Day, held August 21, also helped increase knowledge
regarding rape.
Joynt started working on the Clothesline Project because she
experienced a similar tragedy in her own life.
“As a survivor of sexual violence myself, I was looking
for a safe space to learn and help the community at large,”
said Joynt.
“We are excited to present these issues to the UCLA
community to spark dialogue and awaken needed change.”