Student-made display spotlights sexual violence

A display created by Grand Valley students who want to help raise awareness of sexual violence will be on display in the Kirkhof Center and the Meijer Campus in Holland through October 19.

The Clothesline Project is in recognition of Dating and Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is co-sponsored by the Women’s Center and Eyes Wide Open, a student advocacy group that aims to raise awareness of sexual abuse.

The project, which includes a display of colorful T-shirts, is organized and facilitated Carolyn Pidgeon and Will Waalkes, two student members of Eyes Wide Open. “The T-shirts share the experiences of sexual abuse by both victims and family or friends of people who have experienced sexual violence,” said Waalkes.

T-shirt making workshops will take place from October 15-10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., in room 1201 of the Kirkhof Center and on the Holland Campus from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Inspired by the Names Project, a national project to raise awareness and tell the story of people who died of AIDS, the Clothesline Project includes an estimated 500 other projects nationally and internationally with 50,000 to 60,000 T-shirts.

For more information, contact the Women’s Center at (616) 331-2748.