by Tim Tevault
Staff Writer
To help contribute their part to the Body Image Awareness Week, local sorority Iota Delta and the Associated Students Federation (ASF) Forum organized the Clothesline Project.
The annual event, which takes place in the Quad, aims to benefit victims of violent acts by letting victims or people related to the victims, design T-shirts expressing their thoughts about their hardships.
Depicting the type of violence inflicted on the victims are different colored shirts; white for women and children who have died of violence; yellow or beige for survivors of battery or assault; red, pink, or orange for survivors of rape or sexual assault; blue or green for survivors of incest; and purple or lavender for victims attacked because of their sexual orientation. Although the project is dedicated toward women, it also supports men who are victims of violence.
Started in 1994, the Clothesline Project has generated much interest on campus. Last year, over 175 concerned students created shirts. This year, the projected total is 200.
Both Iota Delta President Toni Dreier and Philanthropy Chair Violet Quinonez agree this project is a great way to bring awareness to campus.
“This is a good way for people to heal and express their feelings,” Dreier said.
Quinonez also feels that there are victims all around, and the problem is not invisible.
Once the shirts are all created, an optional silent auction will be held, with the opening bid beginning at $1. If shirts are not auctioned off, they will go up for sale, with an asking price of $1. The sorority is accepting any extra money in donations. All proceeds will go to a shelter(s) for battered women.
Helping the sisterhood organize the project were ASF, and Melinda Tipton-Acosta and the Registrar’s Office. Together, they all hope the project will will fulfill its slogan of “airing society’s dirty laundry.”
