Nontraditional Students Club members, students, and employees march during the Clothesline Project Walk to honor survivors and victims of domestic violence October 2016. This year’s T-shirt decoration is Oct. 9 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and the march is Oct. 10 11 a.m.-noon. File
The empowerment center offers resources for victims.
By Tania Flores
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Nontraditional Student Club will sponsor the clothesline project Oct. 9-10.
Clothesline projects “have been created all over the United States to bring attention to violence statistics that are often ignored,” according to the website, www.clotheslineproject.info.
“This project originated in Hyannis, Massachusetts, in 1990 when a member of the Cape Cod’s Women’s Defense Agenda learned that during the Vietnam War, 58,000 soldiers were killed, and at the same time, 51,000 women in the U.S. were killed by men who claimed to love them,” according to the website.
The event started at this college in 2008.
The clothesline project is a two-day event, starting with a T-shirt design 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Oct. 9 on the patio of the empowerment center.
The last part of the event is the clothesline project walk 11 a.m.- noon Oct. 10. Participants will meet at the empowerment center and march to the cafeteria in Loftin Student Center.
The purpose of the event is to bring awareness of domestic violence this campus, said club sponsor Maria Jimenez, certified adviser in the empowerment center.
Jimenez said the club will provide white T-shirts, paint and markers for participants to design T-shirts.
Participants are encouraged to write, draw and or paint messages on T-shirts to express their feelings about domestic violence or in honor of someone they know who has experienced domestic violence.
When someone directly or indirectly experiences domestic violence, there is a healing process that happens during the T-shirt design process, Jimenez said.
To bring awareness to domestic violence, participants will carry or wear the T-shirts they designed as they march from the empowerment center to Loftin. Anyone walking by the marching group is welcome to join, she said.
The Clothesline Project will display the T-shirts Oct. 11-31 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin.
Jimenez said club members show their commitment to bringing awareness of domestic violence year-round.
Kristen Meza was a student at this college whose life was taken in a domestic violence incident in 2011.
To remember her, a message was carved into a stone memorial marker at the entrance to the empowerment center.
It reads, “No more violence no more silence, in honor of all those lost to domestic violence.”
Jimenez said the empowerment center helps individuals who are directly or indirectly affected by domestic violence situations.
Advisers in the empowerment center can provide resources such as counseling, literature on family violence, personal safety plans and academic opportunities.
For more information, contact Jimenez at 210-486-0455 or mjimenez47@alamo.edu.
1 Comment
Editor:
The article “Clothesline project to raise awareness of domestic violence” Published Oct.6 really captured my attention.
Clothesline project caught my attention not because I personally went through it but I am very close with two people who did and I love that people are taking a stance to raise awareness.
Domestic violence is a very big issue probably more than people think. However, it’s mostly just focused on the women and children involved in domestic violence but many men suffer as well.
I’ve heard many people say that it is the woman’s fault because she keeps going back. Although I understand where they are coming from it is not as simple as saying bye, I’m going to go now.
Domestic violence doesn’t only consist of physical violence it’s mental and emotional as well. Most victims suffer more from the mental and emotional abuse than physical unless they are beaten to death.
I say this for the reason that survivors after leaving the physical abuse still suffer within themselves. They go through depression or became bitter and isolate themselves from life.
So seeing people ban together in hopes that we can make a change for all victims makes me happy. I am not the only one who wants peace for the victims and for the violence to stop.
Reading this article and seeing the pictures of the people lined up, I am proud to be a part of this school and the student body. I support this awareness project 100 percent and hope to see more.
I would of loved to be a part of this and stand with the crowd to support my loved ones and all the other victims but it takes place during my class, so I send my love and support to be with you all.
Raissa De Leon
Teaching/ Freshmen