VPAS clothesline project instills hope in students

By Lexi White

Features Editor

Colorful t-shirts with powerful messages written by students were placed on the pedestrian bridge to give those passing by a reminder of how much they matter. 

The Violence Prevention, Victim Advocacy and Support Center provided the shirts for students to write compelling statements on. Coordinator of VPAS Colleen Kearney said she was excited to see students use their voices to empower others. 

“It’s the most incredible feeling in the world to see our students come out to support people that they’ve never met or to support people that they know in their own life,” Kearney said. 

Kearney supports students who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking at the university. She helps students find resources that fit their needs in navigating their trauma. 

Kearney said, “Sometimes, you don’t want to have this job because you wish that these things weren’t happening, but to be able to give that support to students is really important to me.” 

Psychology major Jillian Haggerty, a senior, works as a student counselor for VPAS and said that she thinks their clothesline project is an important presence to have on campus. 

“Us being here shows that we are educating students,” Haggerty said. “They come over and ask us what we’re doing, and we reply with telling them what’s wrong or right in relationships.” 

Haggerty said that being a part of VPAS and helping students who have gone through dating violence is something that she is passionate about. 

“I am a victim of sexual violence and having this event on campus shows that there is support for the students who have gone through it,” Haggerty said. “These sayings can have positive impacts on their mental health, and they can become more aware of what abuse really is by talking to us.” 

Many students came to this event, regardless of it they have personally been affected by the issues VPAS spreads awareness of. 

Communication disorders major Ava DeTulio, a sophomore, said that she came to the VPAS table because she wanted to show her support for the survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. 

“Spreading a positive message is important to me because it shows victims who feel lonely that they have support in various ways,” DeTulio said. 

Another student who made a motivating t-shirt at the event was interdisciplinary studies major Dakota Dipietro, a senior. Dipietro said that coming to the event was important because of the message VPAS promotes and the support that is available for survivors. 

“As a survivor myself, this event means a lot to me, and it’s very empowering to know that there’s such a great support system here on campus,” Dipietro said. “This can help give people the strength to keep pushing through.” 

Dipietro said that people who have gone through traumatic experiences need a reason to defy the odds and get the help they deserve. 

“Hope is what pushes people through their hard times,” Dipietro said. “If they know that there’s people supporting them, and that they’re not alone, I feel like they could get through anything.”