DUBOIS – Beginning April 5, the Penn State DuBois Women’s Liaison Committee will begin its Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night activities on campus.
The events honor women who have been victims of violence and assault. Fabric paint and T-shirts will available for supporters to decorate in memory of a victim. The shirts will then hang on a clothesline in the Student Union, displaying messages of hope and support. Each t-shirt color represents a different violent crime against women. White for women who have died from violence; yellow or beige for women who have been battered or assaulted; red, pink or orange for women who have been raped or sexually assaulted; blue or green for women who are survivors of incest or child sexual abuse; purple or lavender for women attacked because of their sexual orientation, and black for women attacked for political reasons.
The Take Back the Night Rally and events are planned for April 12. Supporters will walk throughout campus with signs displaying messages of hope for abuse victims during the day. The rally will begin at 7:00 p.m., and include speakers from organizations such as Passages and Crossroads, and the Clearfield County Victim Witness Office. There will also be poetry readings, and a candlelight vigil.
“I believe that events like the Clothesline project and the Take Back the Night Rally are important to the victims,” said student organizer Heidi Miller. “It’s a way to show support, make them aware they are not alone and that people do care and want to help. It’s also a way for people to come together, make a stand and show everyone that violence is not the answer. It’s ugly and it needs to stop.”
The public is invited to participate in these events that help to put a stop to violence against women. For more information, contact the Penn State DuBois Office of Student Life at 814-375-4764.
Steve Harmic, Penn State DuBois