Make sure to check out Clothesline this week

Today, Take Back the Night set up the Clothesline Project on the Lerner Ramps.

The Clothesline Project is an annual event held to raise awareness about sexual violence. Students and members of the Columbia University of community, whether they are survivors of sexual violence or allies, can decorate plain white t-shirts to illustrate their experiences with sexual assault. The project serves as an opportunity for survivors and allies to anonymously express their feelings on sexual violence in a public setting.

Sexual assault isn't uncommon, especially on college campuses. Some facts from the Clothesline Project brochure:

• Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.
• An estimated 20-25% women in the US. have experienced attempted or completed rapes during their college career
• 1 in 6 women report experiencing an attempted or completed rape at some time in their lives
• 1 in 33 men report experiencing an attempted or completed rape sometime in their lives

For me, walking past Clothesline was a powerful, numbing experience. It serves as an example of how prevalent domestic violence is even on our own campus and how it is an issue that facts many of our own peers, friends, and family members. It is not something abstract that we can push away and pretend doesn't exist.

If you believe you are a survivor of sexual assault, the Peer Advocacy Services through The Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center is available 24/7 at 212-854-HELP. Know that you are not alone.

TBTN will be set up on the Lerner ramps tomorrow as well as in the Diana Center on Thursday.