BU gets clotheslined

The Women’s Center sponsored a clothesline project yesterday to recognize female victims of hate crimes ranging from rape and sexual assault to incest and child abuse yesterday. About 50-60 T-shirts made by Boston University students for themselves and others lined Marsh Plaza as thousands of students passed by. Several students lingered to read the messages painted on the shirts and wrote encouraging words in a comment book.

The clothesline project was a far better demonstration than others have been this year. The goal was simple: to increase awareness about violent crimes against women. The group clearly isolated a single, directed purpose. Although demonstrators also posted a sign in support of a rape crisis center, they were more concerned with educating their peers and gaining support — they did not have to measure their success by whether or not BU administrators took notice of their demonstration.

The event was also effective because it highlighted the issue of sexual violence against women without making the rape crisis center cause its focal point. The Women’s Center will probably gain increased student support for the rape crisis center because it highlighted why sexual abuse is an important issue for students.

The Women’s Center orchestrated a demonstration that allowed students to get involved in a passive way and yet still feel as though they made a difference. The demonstrators used more effective techniques that any megaphone could to make students understand the full impact and severity of sexual assault without the use of confrontation.

The Women’s Center succeeded in bringing this very important issue to the forefront. Sexual assault affects college students at an alarmingly high rate. BU students need to know there are resources at the University in the event that they or someone they care about is the victim of sexual violence.