The Arkansas Tech University Office of Title IX, the ATU Department of Campus Life, ATU Student Activities Board and ATU fraternities will host a Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event and a Clothesline Project display in conjunction with the ATU 2024 Women’s Week observance.
The activities will begin at 2 p.m. Monday, March 4, with a rally against sexual and relationship violence at Hindsman Tower.
People of all genders are invited to walk for prevention, learn about relationship red flags and show support for survivors of interpersonal violence.
Males in attendance will be invited to wear red high heels for the walk as a statement of listening, learning, allyship and commitment.
Those in attendance at Hindsman Tower from 2-4 p.m. Monday, March 4, will also be able to view shirts created by members of the ATU community for the Clothesline Project.
According to information provided by the organization, the Clothesline Project began in 1990 when members of the Cape Cod Women’s Agenda hung a clothesline across the Village Green in Hyannis, Mass., with 31 shirts designed by survivors of assault, rape and child sexual abuse.
Members of the ATU community are invited to create and submit T-shirts that convey their personal experiences of interpersonal violence, such as emotional, spiritual, verbal, physical, sexual, financial, technology-based and other forms of abuse, stalking or sexual harassment.
Shirts may be dropped off in Doc Bryan Student Services Center suites 119, 171 or 233, in the Tucker Coliseum entry way or room 113B in the Hull Building Student Union weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Wednesday, Feb. 28. Blank shirts are available in Doc Bryan Student Services Center suite 171 while supplies last.
Following the March 4 event, the Clothesline Project shirts will be displayed in the Hull Building Student Union through the remainder of Women’s Week. Afterward, shirts will be stored for future Clothesline Project displays at ATU.
Examples of Clothesline Project shirts are available at https://theclotheslineproject.org/photos.htm.
Additional details are available at www.atu.edu/titleix/training_options.php.
The rally will also include an observance of the Red Flag Campaign.
Research indicates that 1-in-5 college students experiences intimate partner violence. The Red Flag Campaign uses a bystander intervention strategy to address and prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on college campuses. The campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to say something when they see warning signs (“red flags”) for sexual assault, dating violence or stalking in a friend’s relationship.
For more information about the March 4 rally, send e-mail to mbell11@atu.edu.
