As part of The University of Toledo’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about sexual violence, UT will hold its annual Clothesline Project.
The visual display bears witness to violence targeted against women. T-shirts are individually designed and crafted to publicly express the personal experience of a survivor. Some shirts share her words, story and emotions; other shirts created by family and friends pay tribute to one’s memory.
The Clothesline Project will be on display Thursday, Sept. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Centennial Mall. If it rains, it will be moved to the Thompson Student Union Trimble Lounge.
The T-shirt collection, which holds more than 200 shirts, coordinates a color to many types of abuse: white for those who died because of violence; yellow and beige for battered and assaulted women; red, pink and orange for survivors of rape and sexual assault; blue and green for survivors of incest and sexual abuse; purple for those who were attacked because of their sexual orientation; and black for women attacked for political reasons.
Jamie Wlosowicz, graduate assistant for the Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Program, said the event gives victims, family members and friends the opportunity to express how the assault affected or empowered them, while at the same time providing them an outlet to express their emotions and share their story in a creative way.
There are many resources available for survivors of assault; these include the University Counseling Center, YWCA advocate, campus advocate, sexual assault and domestic violence counselor, and a 24/7 hotline — 419.530.3431. Title IX accommodations, advocacy and assistance filing a University complaint also are available.
The Title IX Office and the UT Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Program have moved to a new location: Snyder Memorial Building Room 1120. Campus community members are invited to stop by during an open house Thursday and Friday, Sept. 28-29, from 1 to 5 p.m.
“Our office was previously located on the Scott Park campus. Being on Main Campus allows us to serve the University community in a more efficient manner and address issues related to sexual misconduct in a more timely manner,” Donald Kamm, UT director of Title IX and compliance, said.
The Title IX Office complies with duties under federal and state laws and sets forth a comprehensive framework for receiving, processing, investigating and resolving complaints of sexual misconduct, according to Kamm.
“The Title IX Office also provides the University community with necessary information regarding how to make complaints, receive assistance and support, and what to expect from the investigation process. We also work with partners on campus and in the community to provide resources to those affected by a Title IX incident,” he said.
He encouraged students, faculty and staff to stop by during the open house to learn more about the resources that are available, as well as the updated Title IX policy.
