Campus, community organizations plan events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Beginning Oct. 23, Purdue and local community organizations are sponsoring three interactive events to bring attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The organizers of the Clothesline Project, These Hands are Not for Hurting display and the Take Back the Night March and Vigil want participants to contribute their memories and experiences related to family violence for the events.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month began in October 1987. It was created out of Day of Unity, an initiative from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to unite battered women's advocates throughout the United States. It is a national effort to bring attention to survivors and victims of domestic abuse.
Originally created in Cape Cod, Mass., in 1990, the Clothesline Project is a display of shirts decorated with messages and illustrations that have been designed by survivors, friends and family members of survivors, and activists against domestic violence. For the events at Purdue, Tippecanoe County residents will design the shirts.
The project will be on display from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 23-26 in the Purdue Memorial Union East and West Main Lounges.
Those wanting to create their own T-shirt illustrations may supply their own shirt or pick one up at the Women's Resource office or YWCA. Shirts may be dropped off, beginning Oct. 16, at the Women's Resource office, YWCA, Panhellenic office or at the Union during the Clothesline Project event.
"The Clothesline Project is one of the most moving and informative events at Purdue each year," said Katie Pope, director of the Women's Resource Office. "It is astounding how many people do not know the extent of domestic and intimate violence in America. The Clothesline Project is eye-opening and educational."
The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association are sponsoring These Hands are Not for Hurting, a display of paper hand cutouts signed by people committed to nonviolence and providing support to survivors of domestic violence. The display will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 23-24 at the Memorial Mall.
Starting and ending at the Black Cultural Center on Oct. 25, Take Back the Night combines a vigil with a rally and march with the purpose of unifying men and women against domestic violence, sexual assault and rape.
Originally held in Europe in the early 1970s, Take Back the Night is an international event that was created in response to a series of sexual assaults, rapes and murders.
"It is a collaboration of community and campus members who want to take a stand against violence and make the night safe for everyone," Pope said.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center with a vigil and presentations from community and campus leaders. The march is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Presentation speakers include Alysa Christmas Rollock, vice president for Human Relations; West Lafayette Mayor Jan Mills; Jolivette J. Anderson-Douoning, facility and program adviser for the Black Cultural Center; and community activist Emily Stern.
The march route begins at the Black Cultural Center, heads south on Russell Street, turns west on State Street, continues north on South Intramural Drive and returns to the center by heading east on Third Street.
Sponsors of Domestic Violence Awareness Month events include Alpha Chi Omega, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, Purdue Organization for Women's Equality and Rights, the Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program, Lafayette Crisis Center, Purdue chapter of the National Organization for Women, Office of the Dean of Students, Student Wellness Office and the Women's Resource Office.
More information is available online or by contacting Pope at cepope@purdue.edu, (765) 494-9879.
Writer: Bethany Bannister-Andrews, (765) 494-2073, bbannister@purdue.edu
Source: Katie Pope, (765) 494-9879, cepope@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
To the News Service home page