Editor’s Note: This story contains details of sexual assault and relationship violence.

Among rows of T-shirts hanging in Panasci Lounge, a dark red one reads, “he was supposed to be my friend” in black and white lettering.

“That shirt shows the community that it can be those closest to you that end up hurting you,” said Melaica Delgado, an SU junior. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t have others to support you.”

The shirts, which include quotes, words and images that display messages from survivors about their experiences, are part of Syracuse University’s Clothesline Project. The annual initiative, hosted by the Health Promotions Department at the Barnes Center at The Arch, aims to give individuals who have experienced sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking or other forms of interpersonal violence a chance to share their experiences.

This is the first year SU presented the Clothesline Project as part of Take Back The Night, an international organization that hosts events and brings attention to sexual, relationship and domestic violence. The planning committee of SU’s chapter of Take Back The Night hosted its annual rally virtually last Wednesday, and speakers discussed obstacles that make it challenging for survivors to report their assault.

The university has set up the Clothesline Project display for 10 years at different spots around campus. While the shirts will be removed from Panasci Lounge in Schine Student Center on Monday morning, the planning committee created a virtual display that will be available through April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, said Patrick Lee, an SU senior and co-chair of the Take Back The Night planning committee.

“We want people to take time to view each story and acknowledge each story,” Lee said.“It’s a powerful message, it’s eye-opening, it’s heartbreaking, but I think it’s an important part of hearing our communities and giving survivors a chance to speak to their experience.”

Students either picked up a shirt at the Barnes Center to decorate on their own or submitted a form saying what they wanted on their shirt, he said.

The shirts, which include those from previous displays and date back to 2003, demonstrate that sexual assault and relationship violence have been reoccurring issues for years and that they aren’t going away any time soon, said Delgado, who is also a member of the planning committee for SU’s chapter of Take Back The Night. She pointed to one shirt that reads, “every minute of the day a woman is raped.”

“It’s a real reflection of what we’ve been through, what we’re going through and what we’re going to go through,” Delgado said. “It shows that the community is still fighting to find a place and space for people to be comfortable and safe in their place of education.”

The messages on the shirts vary, some offer messages of encouragement while others are ways to commemorate loved ones. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor

The project also uses T-shirts as a way to tackle the stereotype that individuals experience sexual assault because of what they wear. People have been sexually assaulted in any type of clothing, even if it’s just a shirt, Delgado said.

Elliot Salas, the social media creator for the Take Back The Night planning committee, said the shirts show that sexual assault comes in many forms, and that it can affect anyone, no matter their gender or sexual identity.

“It could be you, it could be me, it doesn’t always have to be female, male or someone of another gender,” Salas said. “Anyone could be harmed by these specific actions, and if we just bring awareness to tell people that this is what’s really happening in our lives and in our society, then we can abolish this and prevent it from even happening in the future.”

The committee chose to focus on the theme of healing, mental health and building community for this year’s Take Back The Night rally. The shirts demonstrate the healing process and how it can differ from person to person, Lee said.

Delgado said the shirts that stand out to her the most are the ones that are commemorative, such as one that reads “In loving memory of Jenni-Lyn Watson 1990-2010.” Watson’s ex-boyfriend, Steven Pieper, of Clay, pleaded guilty to her murder. The display allows survivors to reclaim their own sense of self and their identity through the healing process.

The shirts are a representation that sexual assault and relationship violence have been reoccurring issues for years and that they aren’t going away any time soon. Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor

“To see all of these different people making all of these different shirts, it insinuates that, one, they’ve been through their own trauma and, two, that they’re healing,” Delgado said.

But, as a survivor herself, Delgado said the display is a double-edged sword.

“In one place, you’re so proud that all these people came together in order to create a community to feel safe with one another, but then you realize it’s based on trauma, and it’s painful to think about the stuff that everyone has had to go through for us to all end up in this one place together,” Delgado said. “It’s a beautiful, painful piece of art.”

Although it’s important to bring awareness to the prevalence of sexual assault and its history, Lee said Take Back The Night aims to create a time when there won’t be any shirts to display.

“I think the planning committee just hopes someday in the future there will be no need to Take Back The Night because the night’s already yours,” Delgado said.

Published on April 4, 2021 at 9:27 pm

Contact Maggie: mehicks@syr.edu | @maggie_hickss