Clothesline Project returns to MSU campus

Contact: James Carskadon

The Clothesline Project returns to MSU this week. Taking place on the Drill Field, it enables participants to create shirt designs that promote awareness of different forms of violence, as well as healing for victims. (Photo by Hunter Hart)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Promoting public awareness and healing for those affected by violence, the Clothesline Project returns this week to Mississippi State.

During the free 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday [Sept. 13-15] event, university students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to create designs for shirts to be displayed with others on a Drill Field clothesline.

Sponsored annually by MSU’s Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, the campus program is part of a national effort to aid the healing process for survivors of violence. Educating, raising awareness and providing a network of support, encouragement and information are other major goals. For more, see www.clotheslineproject.org.

Each day, participants will have an opportunity to produce a shirt design that reflects personal experiences with violence, or as a way to honor a friend or loved one affected by violence.

The available colors are meant to represent different types of violent acts. They include:

—Yellow, representing physical acts such as battery, assault or other intimate partner violence;

—Red, pink or orange, violence of rape or sexual assault;

—White, the memory of those that have lost their lives to violence;

—Blue or green, violence of incest or child abuse;

—Purple, violence associated with sexual orientation;

—Black, violence associated with political injustice; and

—Gray, a new category added this year to represent cyber violence.

For more information on the Clothesline Project at MSU, contact Leah Pylate, assistant director of Health, Promotion and Wellness at lpylate@saffairs.msstate.edu or graduate assistant Beth Serigny at bms592@saffairs.msstate.edu. The office telephone numbers are 662-325-7545 or 662-325-8322, for the hearing impaired.  

Details about other MSU Health Promotion and Wellness resources may be found at www.health.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.