According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women will be raped at some point in their lives. To address this issue, the New Horizons Crisis Center is sponsoring a Clothesline Project on campus.

The event was designed in 1990 to help raise awareness of violence against women. Participants decorate a t-shirt and display it on a clothesline to express their feelings on the sensitive issue in a public place.

“It is meant to empower victims and survivors to come forward and share their story if they feel comfortable doing so,” said Brittany Verhelst, the New Horizons Crisis Center advocate at SMSU. “It can also be used by secondary victims—family members, friends, or loved ones who know a victim/survivor—to remember the victim/survivor or to acknowledge that they are there to help support them. T-shirts can also be decorated by people who just want to help raise awareness and make sure that victims/survivors know that they are not alone.”

Though the event is geared specifically towards raising awareness of violence against women, it does not exclude victims of other kinds of violence.

“I believe that it can be expanded to encompass victims of violence in general,” Verhelst said. “Whether they are victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment or whether they are male, female, or non-gender conforming.”

To save money and increase ease of participation, SMSU’s version of the event will have paper t-shirts instead of cloth ones.

“It is more cost effective and I feel it is an easier way to get students to participate,” Verhelst said.

While the t-shirts will only be on display for three weeks, the goal of the event is to get more people aware of the issue and what they can do about it in the future.

“Promoting awareness is something that people can do in their daily lives,” Verhelst said. “It doesn’t need to be a specific event like The Clothesline Project, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or Domestic Assault Awareness Month. If you hear something that is promoting rape culture, speak with the person who said it. If you see violence against people being depicted in media, address the issue with people around you. If you see a questionable situation unfold in front of you, say something to the perpetrator and ask the victim if they need help.”

The event also has a special focus on creating an environment where discussion is encouraged, which will help victims feel more at ease when coming forward.

“Victims/survivors of sexual violence cannot ask to be victims, no one chooses to have this happen to them,” Verhelst said. “If you choose to speak to someone or to seek help make sure that you are doing it because you want to and not because someone is pressuring you to do it. My door is open if you need someone to speak with or just need someone to listen to you. Our services are free, confidential, and judgement free.” Her office is in SS.

“Silence is a breeding ground for violence, by being vocal when a situation calls for it hopefully we can end the violence,” Verhelst said.