SW New Mexico News

For the third consecutive year, New Mexico State University (NMSU) is hosting the "Clothesline Project," an initiative aimed at raising awareness about violence and abuse. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the third-floor ballroom of Corbett Center at NMSU.

Organized by the Department of Criminal Justice, this project is part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities in Las Cruces. Professor Ahram Cho, who leads the project, explained its purpose: “This is a unique platform to share their survival stories and understand the prevalence of violence and abuse.” The event seeks to amplify survivors' voices through displays and challenge stereotypes surrounding victimization.

The Clothesline Project features T-shirts with messages and illustrations depicting various forms of interpersonal violence. These shirts are color-coded: yellow signifies domestic violence and assault; red, pink, and orange represent rape and sexual assault survivors; blue and green indicate incest and sexual abuse survivors; while white represents those who died due to violence.

Cho highlighted the project's goals: “We hope to create a safe space for dialogue, support, and healing, ultimately empowering students to speak out against violence and advocate for change.” The exhibition aims to educate attendees about the impact of violence while fostering cultural change on campus.

Since its inception in 2022, NMSU’s Clothesline Project has attracted over 1,000 visitors annually. It showcases nearly 250 T-shirts honoring survivors' experiences. Local law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, and several NMSU departments participate by providing informational resources during the event.

Earlier this year, previous T-shirts from NMSU's Clothesline Project were displayed at several locations including Las Cruces City Hall. Cho intends to continue expanding this initiative within both NMSU's community and Las Cruces as a whole.

Survivors can access resources through https://ohp.nmsu.edu/ or by calling 575-646-2813. More information about The Clothesline Project is available at https://www.theclotheslineproject.org/.