by Rachel Terzo
Seeking consolation for personal matters tends to be difficult for most people. There is an option that offers confidentiality while providing understanding.
The Criminal Justice Organization of WVU Parkersburg will be holding their annual Clothesline project in the criminal justice lab on Oct. 12-14.
The Clothesline Project (CLP) was a program started on Cape Cod, MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a way for women all over the world who have fell victim, or know someone who is/was a victim to violence, to share their stories by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others, to bring awareness to others. The project travels nationwide.
The majority of the stories are submitted by women and children. It is a confidential way for them to express their pain and raise awareness, and for those who want to show support to digress and decorate the shirt with a positive message in response to a victim.
“Through the CLP, people who are victims to violence may summarize their story,” Denise McClung said. The “Silent Witness” portion of the project will feature multiple t-shirts with different colors to symbolize certain forms of violence, and will have a brief story or inspirational writing in the middle of the shirt. A red wooden mannequin will be wearing the shirt to make it easier to display and read.
Kelly Fritz, a current WVU Parkersburg student said, “I was sexually abused as a child, and married a man who had me and my family blinded because I later found out he was guilty of doing the same thing. I hated myself because of him and I was shook so low I didn’t know how to find my way back. I couldn’t function and I believed all the things he told me, like no one else would ever love me, I was nothing alone. My mom and pastor intervened because all I did was sleep and hate my life.
Anyway, I finally start putting one foot in front of the other, baby steps. I admit, I am still a work in progress. My advice is: Love yourself enough to ask for help, to walk away when you don't think you can. Take a big chance, run after your dreams. Be proud of your battle scars, they make you special, wear them with honor. Accept that nothing is perfect, especially not yourself. Love all your faults and flaws as well as the things that make you great.”
Following the end of the Clothesline project for day one (Oct. 12), there will be a Candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room. The vigil is open to the community. “This event touches everyone—victims or those of us who know a victim of violence. It’s a very emotional and heartfelt event for all of those involved,” McClung said.
Seeking consolation for personal matters tends to be difficult for most people. There is an option that offers confidentiality while providing understanding.
The Criminal Justice Organization of WVU Parkersburg will be holding their annual Clothesline project in the criminal justice lab on Oct. 12-14.
The Clothesline Project (CLP) was a program started on Cape Cod, MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a way for women all over the world who have fell victim, or know someone who is/was a victim to violence, to share their stories by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others, to bring awareness to others. The project travels nationwide.
The majority of the stories are submitted by women and children. It is a confidential way for them to express their pain and raise awareness, and for those who want to show support to digress and decorate the shirt with a positive message in response to a victim.
“Through the CLP, people who are victims to violence may summarize their story,” Denise McClung said. The “Silent Witness” portion of the project will feature multiple t-shirts with different colors to symbolize certain forms of violence, and will have a brief story or inspirational writing in the middle of the shirt. A red wooden mannequin will be wearing the shirt to make it easier to display and read.
Kelly Fritz, a current WVU Parkersburg student said, “I was sexually abused as a child, and married a man who had me and my family blinded because I later found out he was guilty of doing the same thing. I hated myself because of him and I was shook so low I didn’t know how to find my way back. I couldn’t function and I believed all the things he told me, like no one else would ever love me, I was nothing alone. My mom and pastor intervened because all I did was sleep and hate my life.
Anyway, I finally start putting one foot in front of the other, baby steps. I admit, I am still a work in progress. My advice is: Love yourself enough to ask for help, to walk away when you don't think you can. Take a big chance, run after your dreams. Be proud of your battle scars, they make you special, wear them with honor. Accept that nothing is perfect, especially not yourself. Love all your faults and flaws as well as the things that make you great.”
Following the end of the Clothesline project for day one (Oct. 12), there will be a Candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room. The vigil is open to the community. “This event touches everyone—victims or those of us who know a victim of violence. It’s a very emotional and heartfelt event for all of those involved,” McClung said.