The Clothesline Project display on  Wednesday, October 3, 2018 from 10 AM- 4 pm in Commons Main Street.  

The Clothesline Project is a program that started back in 1990 and has been established “to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for women affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt.” Here at UMBC we do this project twice a year – in October for Relationship Violence Awareness Month and in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Survivors of sexual violence are welcome to decorate a shirt with their feelings and message. Then the shirts are anonymously hanged on a clothesline display, shoulder to shoulder in Commons Main Street “to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against [anyone].”

For the past three years that I have been part of UMBC community I have seen this project and its strong impact on the community. This is a great chance for anyone who has experienced violence to share their stories in a safe setting, and also practice self-care. Making these shirts is an act of therapy in its own way. Last semester for the first time, I made my own shirt. I shared my story with many people without putting my name out there. I was able to take a story out of my chest and feel so much lighter immediately.

As a student staff member at the Women’s Center and a Resident Assistant, I had the privilege of being involved with this project more closely. Last semester with the help of the Women’s Center and some of my Resident Assistant co-workers, we were able to hold another t-shirt-making event in the residential area. This event has happened before in the residential halls, but seeing the work in person was such a powerful experience. Seeing people coming in, making shirts, and sharing their stories shows how they trust us, which challenges us to provide the best support we can as Resident Assistants and Women’s Center community members.

I personally believe having this project on campus is a great opportunity for our UMBC community members to express their feelings about their experiences with sexual and gender-based violence.

Shirts and supplies will be available throughout the month of October for any survivors who wish to create a shirt that tells their own story. Shirt-making for the Clothesline Project is also available year-round in the Women’s Center.

Congratulations to the following faculty, students, and alumni for their recent accomplishments!  

Matthew Baker, Geography and Environmental Systems, published “Drones to track one of the largest dam removals on the East Coast” in The Conversation.

Amy Bhatt, Gender and Women’s Studies, published “India’s sodomy ban, now ruled illegal, was a British colonial legacy,” in The Conversation.

Nancy Kusmaul, Social Work, was named as Book, Media, and Resource Review Editor of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.

Tara McMullen, PhD '14, Gerontology, received the 2018 Carroll L. Estes Rising Star Award from the Gerontological Society of America.

Derek Musgrove, History, comments on Washington, D.C. in 1984 in the article, “Wonder Woman’s version of 1984 D.C. versus the real thing,” in the Washington City Paper.  

John Rennie Short, Public Policy, published “Campaign season is moving into high gear—your vote may not count as much as you think” in The Conversation. 

Susan Sonnenschein, Psychology, and Rebecca Dowling, M.A. '16, Psychology, Ph.D. '21, Psychology, published “5 math skills your child needs to get ready for kindergarten” in The Conversation.

Susan Sterett, Public Policy, published “Law's Presence, Law's Absence: Reporting Stories of Employment Discrimination in the Academy” in the journal Politics & Gender.

Please plan ahead! The Women's Center will close early at 3:30 pm on Thursday 9/20/18, in order for staff to attend the Listening Session. More information on this event below:

Listening session scheduled for Sept. 20, 3:30 p.m.