Thursday, October 29, 2009

Violence awareness display comes to campus

BY KARINA RAJTAR
Editor in Chief

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Clothesline Project will be coming to Saint Mary’s University Oct. 26-30.

The Clothesline Project “brings awareness to all victims of domestic violence in all of Minnesota” from January to the present, said senior Amanda Mueller. Mueller is an intern at the Women’s Resource Center, which organizes the project. The display travels to various locations in Winona throughout the month of October to spread awareness through the entire community.

The stories, names and ages of the victims are attached to articles of clothing the victims would wear, and these are hung on a clothesline. Those who stop to read the accounts can learn what happened to both the victim and the perpetrator, Mueller said.

Anyone somehow affected by domestic violence is included. “It’s not just people who experienced domestic violence, but also people affected by it,” Mueller said. One example is an officer from the Twin Cities who died while responding to a domestic violence call, Mueller said.

The Women’s Resource Center is a nonprofit organization that works with victims of domestic abuse. The Center operates a 24-hour crisis line to assist anyone affected by domestic abuse. For more information about the Clothesline Project or the Women’s Resource Center, call 452-4440 or go to www.wrcofwinona.org.

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