Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - T-shirts tell stories of abuse

T-shirts tell stories of abuse

Mar 30, 2004 - 23:20:04 CST

By KAREN HERZOG, Bismarck Tribune

The project began as a symbol of the traditional ways that women exchanged information, across the back fence or clothesline, and as a way of "airing society's dirty laundry," said Tessa Sicble, public education coordinator at the North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services.

Strung on clothesline after clothesline in the sunny room in Clairmont Hall on the University of Mary campus, T-shirts pinned there scream and whimper, in ink and paint, words of pain and rage, shouts of triumph and some whispered stories of hope.

The Clothesline Project, sponsored by the North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services Coalition Against Sexual Assault, exhibits T-shirts from around the state that were created by victims and survivors, friends and family of women and children who have suffered from sexual or physical abuse, rape, murder.

The national Clothesline campaign started in 1990, and North Dakota's in 1995, Sicble said. Sicble said shirts are often submitted privately after an exhibit, in honor of someone, by survivors and support groups.

In the guest book are the names and hometowns of visitors to the exhibit. Next to the names, a place for comments on what they've seen.

"Powerful."

"Sad."

And beside a few names in the guest book, simply, "survivor."

To hammer home the stark stories, a recording clangs and booms in the background. A gong sounds every 10 to 12 seconds, when a woman is battered in the nation. Every minute or so, a whistle shrieks -- somewhere someone has been raped. When a bell jangles, three or four times a day, someone has died of abuse.

Time slows as visitors read what has been written by victims -- from a huge, unanswerable "why?" to graphically detailed stories of childhood and adult sexual molestation and rape.

Students and faculty silently walk up and down the lines, reading the stories, lifting a T-shirt sleeve to see some hidden words, pondering.

"These (stories) could bring tears to your eyes," said Mary Behm, 18, a freshman at U-Mary. She knows it still happens, she said, and girls still mostly keep these experiences to themselves.

"Shocking" was the reaction of Nolan Atchinson, 19, a freshman. He said he thinks students may believe these experiences are mostly things of the past, "but obviously not," he said.

Faculty member Susanne Cuperus said she hopes that sharing these stories will lead to healing for those victims.

The Clothesline Project is on display at U-Mary from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, students will be offered T-shirts and materials to create shirts to add to the display.

"We really invite the public to come out and take a look," said Trina Black, student counselor at U-Mary, who coordinated the exhibit on campus.

"We want to raise awareness and challenge people's thinking," she said, "really challenging (students) to remember that this happens. And what role do they want to take in making a difference?"

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Comments

sister wrote on Dec 12, 2007 11:03 PM:

" your missed dearly buddy. "

guess wrote on Feb 13, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Thanks for putting MY efforts into the paper. You rock. No Alyysa, this is my idea. "

Alyssa Roller wrote on Jan 1, 2007 10:27 PM:

" hey . thanks for putting that sweet article in the news paper i just love when people can read about me ! well thanks love : alyssa roller "

Question? wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:52 AM:

" How come is the school improvement director for DPI not a licensed teacher? Is this a patern the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has been doing for years? I've heard rumors to that effect. It would be nice if someone would check this out - and not only in the school improvment department. I think the State Superintendent should be held to the same standard as public schools are held to in North Dakota. Currently when schools hire teachers who do not have a current North Dakota Teacher's License, someone (the teacher) pays a fine ( I think it is about $ 100. per day.) I think what is good for the goose is good for the gander. DPI should be held to the same standard as teachers and the schools. "

Correction wrote on Dec 30, 2006 9:38 AM:

" The article states that "The plan provides further details to state assessments, which are currently given to fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders and will eventually be expanded to other grades." This is incorrect. For the past 2 years the state assessments were administered to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. Twelfth grade students haven't been assessed for 3 years. "

Let's do it!! wrote on Oct 19, 2006 5:34 PM:

" Lets give back the whole state to the Native Peoples of this land. It's there's anyway!! "

Buck wrote on Aug 30, 2006 9:59 AM:

" Or whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaat! "

Kristin wrote on Aug 24, 2006 2:09 AM:

" Well i was searching for my friend Kelly Winn the snow boarder i meant from the max air show at a Carnival in Carbondale IL... i use to work with Harris Exoitics and we were set up right behind him... Kelly and i kept in touch for a while after but i guess i know why the letters stopped now. you know it sucks to have had to find out this was. i still thought of him from time to time hoping one day we'd see eachother again i cant believe i had to find out this way years later what had a happen. RIP Kelly. Im just sorry it took me this long to find out.. "

ummyeah wrote on Aug 16, 2006 10:39 AM:

" These comments aren't even about the article. Wow. "

washingtongirl1 wrote on Aug 3, 2006 3:30 AM:

" Wow! These comments don't even seem to apply...? Far too confusing for those who read, to even try to care. Hmmm, who screens this anyway? "

L33tmaster wrote on Jul 28, 2006 7:51 AM:

" I hate the government. They have no right to tell me what I can or can't do. I'll gamble online whenever i damn please. "

hunkpapa wrote on May 24, 2006 9:32 AM:

" The Gaming Division of North Dakota need to furhter investigate this man. He has been given a license to steal just as he did at Standing Rock. Banks accounts and other financial information needs to be collected and examined on how he was able to obtain the funds to purchase the establishment in Fargo. One would believe it was from the money that was obtined from the Standing Rock Tribe. Be where of this individual. "

Shannon wrote on May 16, 2006 11:49 AM:

" Whay happpend to this women is unbelivable but the article was to discriptive of the scene. Yes, we are curois about the events that surrounded her murder but to what extent? Could you emagine if you read about your grandmother this way.... what would be your feelings then?! "

berber wrote on May 8, 2006 6:50 PM:

" what is another bird in the pelican family "

kathy toohey wrote on May 4, 2006 12:26 AM:

" I never fully understood the vital lifeline that Greyhound is, or was according to the article. It is somewhat confusing, you don't know if they are going or coming back. All of the stories are everyday stories and these are the ones that should be heard, and considered in such a decision, community, and communities that were all connected by this one bus line, and the jobs that were connected with this company, to rid these individuals of this one required mode of transportation is totally uncalled for and should be rectified immediately. We have to remember what we are dealing with here, humans who by helping them, they help one another, and it continues on,and all concerned will benefit and they will make their money, they have to remember maybe their pockets are to full and might need some individuals to be held accountable for the reasons that this is happening at all. "

Bob Armentrout wrote on Apr 17, 2006 9:21 AM:

" Just a quick note, my wife (who is from the La Crosse, WI area) and I saw about 200 white pelicans on the Mississippi River, just south of Stoddard WI. She told me she had never seen pelicans in this area before. We saw the flock first on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006. Today, April 17, the flock has scattered some, mostly appearing to be in breeding pairs. If we see any nesting, we will post additional comments. "

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