Ole Miss students view UM RASA’s clothesline exhibit on the Union Terrace on April 5, 2023. See the gallery at the end of the story to read the quotes and stories displayed. Photo by HG Biggs.
Rallying Against Sexual Assault held a T-shirt decorating event for the Clothesline Project on Tuesday night in the Thad Cochran Research Center. Students brought awareness to sexual violence by creating T-shirts to express their stories.
RASA is an open student organization under the Violence Intervention and Prevention: Survivor Support office that brings education and awareness of gender-based violence to students who are passionate about the topic. The organization is comprised of confidential advocates that work with students that have experienced sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking.
The Clothesline Project is an interactive exhibit that features written experiences by survivors of interpersonal violence and all forms of violence. T-shirts created during Tuesday night’s event were put on display Wednesday, April 5, on the Union Terrace.
The organization hasn’t been consistent in putting on The Clothesline Project exhibit, but co-advisors Bhakti Patel and Christin Dobbs are glad they brought the event back to campus this year.
Patel, a second-year graduate student who works in the VIP office, thinks the event is a “cathartic” experience for everyone involved and hopes the exhibit will bring awareness to the community.
“Making a T-shirt is really for empowerment in itself,” Patel said. “I think it’s always powerful reading the T-shirts on a clothesline in the middle of campus because you always think ‘Maybe that could be my friend.’ It definitely brings awareness.”
Dobbs, in addition to being the co-advisor of RASA, is the program manager of the VIP office.
“I think it’s always really amazing to see students engaged in activities where you can see how it’s impacting them and how it’s building community for them,” Dobbs said. “I think that’s really valuable and rewarding.”
“Just being able to have this opportunity to educate campus, I’m grateful for,” Dobbs said.
Freshman nursing major Breanna Moseley is a RASA member. She attended Tuesday night and described feeling supported by her fellow attendees.
“It’s emotional. Especially seeing other people’s shirts. It’s good to know that there’s people around me that have shared the same experiences,” Moseley said. “They don’t compare traumas here. Everyone is here for each other, and that’s what I really like about it.”
Lane Taylor writes on a pink T-shirt to be displayed at UM RASA’s Clothesline project.
Photo by HG Biggs.
Carlee Colleps writes on a pink shirt to be displayed at UM RASA’s Clothesline project.
Photo by HG Biggs.
Kitt helps Emma Mossman write on a pink T-shirt to be displayed at UM RASA’s Clothesline project.
Photo by HG Biggs.
Allen Chatelain writes on a brown T-shirt to be displayed at UM RASA’s Clothesline project.
Photo by HG Biggs.
Vee Douglas and Breanna Moseley read T-shirts laid out on the stage in Thad Cochran Research Center Room 1000. Photo by HG Biggs.
Members of UM RASA fold and box up T-shirts to be displayed at the Clothesline Project Exhibit. Photo by HG Biggs.
Hayden Wallace and Laila Miller read the T-shirts displayed at UM RASA’s Clothesline exhibit on the union terrace on April 5, 2023. Photo by HG Biggs.
The different T-shirt colors in the Clothesline Project all have different meanings.
White: someone who died because of violence.
Yellow: survivor of physical assault or domestic violence.
Red, Pink, or Orange: survivor of rape or sexual assault.
Blue or Green: survivor of incest or childhood abuse.
Purple: someone attacked because of their sexual orientation.
Brown or Gray: survivors of emotional, spiritual, or verbal abuse.
Black: someone disabled as the result of an attack or someone assault because of a disability.
Photo by HG Biggs.
Open the gallery at full size to read the full image descriptions.
“You were my High school ‘sweetheart’.”
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You were supposed to take care of me.”
Black T-shirt, pink construction paper, brown writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I KNOW I’M A FAGGOT.
SO YELL IT OUT LOUD BUT IT WON’T MAKE ME CHANGE OR MAKE ME UNPROUD.”
Brown T-shirt, red writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“If I never speak to you again, I want you to know that you no longer have a space in my fears. I’m free. This body is powerful. This body is resillient. This body is wonderfully, intentionally, especially made…for me. Don’t let it go over your head.”
Pink T-shirt, gray writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, INSTEAD, I WAS RAPED.”
Yellow T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I was 19 and it was his 21st birthday. It was the day after Christmas this last year and we had been friends for years. He was a family friend as well and I was so drunk I should have been taken to the hospital, instead I was raped.”
Printed anonymous submission. Black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“A moment of silence for the mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, friends, family, etc. who never came HOME.”
White T-shirt, multi-colored writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
A drawing of a woman digging her hands into her face with handcuffs on her hands, as a face looms behind her drawn on a pink shirt. The artist requested to remain anonymous.
Pink T-shirt, purple marker.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“To my best friend: I’m sorry the pain he brought you. NO ONE should feel the way he made you feel. I’m glad you’re still here with me, and I hope we can heal together.”
Printed anonymous submission. Black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Go Get the HELP you need.”
Yellow T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“The fact you are still out there KILLS ME.”
Green T-shirt, red writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“The judge gave you 6 months for a crime that RUINED MY LIFE. Luckily HELL IS ETERNAL. Happy burning! Signed, your biggest hater.”
Pink T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“The only thing good about you was your dog. #FuckyouDan.”
Gray T-shirt, pink writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I was a child. In my church. You were a grown man. I had to grow up as a 14 year old girl. You took my childhood but you will not take my voice.”
Blue T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I hid under the bed as you kicked down the door, terrified. I called mom to tell her I love her, until you found me. You dragged me out from my own bed, I kicked and screamed for you to leave me alone. The cops came, but because you’re the adult and I was the child, they believed you when you said you ‘meant no harm.’ I stayed in the corner until mom got home. -your 9 year old daughter.”
Green T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“In court you said you did nothing wrong even though you admitted in front of the judge that you RAPED ME. You may think you won on January 26, 2023, but you will never, ever lay a hand on me. again. GO FUCK YOURSELF, DAVID.
But maybe ask for consent first.”
Yellow T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“THE AXE FORGETS, BUT THE TREE REMEMBERS.”
Gray T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I know you think you deserved it (sex with me), thought it was fun, thought I liked it, that you did NOTHING WRONG. Well you are wrong.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I WAS THROWN ACROSS THE ROOM AND BEATEN!! -7 yr old.”
Green T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You leaving was the BEST thing that ever happened to me. I pray everyday you don’t hit your new wife and kids.”
Green T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“It was my stepbrother, we were both in middle school. He molested me for nearly 9 months, and I didn’t say anything b/c I thought it was my fault. I finally told my parents when I caught him a couple times in my room at night, touching me while I was asleep. They took him into a room, talked to him, and later told me, ‘we think he just had a crush on you.'”
Blue T-shirt, dark blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I could see the light, it was right there, but I couldn’t reach it.”
White T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I hope it was worth it you Dumb Mf! (fuck you).”
Yellow T-shirt, red writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You don’t have to be left in a ditch for dead to be BELIEVED!”
Pink T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“IF YOU WANT ME GONE, PULL THE TRIGGER.”
“When I was 7 years old, I yelled at my dad to leave because he was beating my mom. He handed me a .45 and told me, ‘If you want me gone, pull the trigger.’ I haven’t been able to hold a gun in my hands since then.”
Gray T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Back when I was in 7th grade, I was sexually assaulted by a friend and a classmate in the middle of class while the teacher was going through a lesson.”
Pink T-shirt, pink writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
A student reads the quotes and stories written on T-shirts at UM RASA’s Clothesline exhibit on the union terrace on April 5, 2023.
“When I was 11 years old, my sister began sexually abusing me. Growing up, I always pushed that experience deep down to keep my sanity. It was something that we never ever talked about. Once I was older, I was able to uncover that trauma buried underneath through therapy. It has been the hardest thing that I have ever done. A lot of people don’t talk about how intense the after effects are. Usually, most people think the initial incident is the most traumatic but a lot of times the repercussions can be just as traumatic or even more. For me, it has been hardest understanding the reasoning. When people think of childhood sexual abuse, they think of an older person inflicting a minor. Someone who should know better. They don’t talk about incest, especially by your own sister who doesn’t know better. It makes finding that closure even harder. By sharing my story, I hope to bring awareness to incest and that people that have gone through it do exist. We are here, and we are normal, everyday people trying to live. I also hope to connect with those who have gone through the same thing. You are not alone. One day, I hope to write a book about my personal story to start a discussion and break that stigma, regarding incest and sexual abuse. For now, I am focusing on getting my bachelors degree and healing properly with professional guidance.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I hope your dick & balls fall off (painfully).”
Pink T-shirt, pink writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Fuck you & what you did! You deserve to ROT IN HELL.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You taught me what a good partner should be… you DEFINITELY wren’t one of those.”
Yellow T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I was 14 (you were 16) and took advantage of my innocence. I said ‘NO’ and you emotionally abused me into thinking I had something wrong with me and that I ‘should want everything you give me’ because you ‘love’ me. Every time I stood up for myself you would cry and make me feel bad for you. You forgot I existed but I’ll NEVER forget the disgusting things you did to me. I hope you live the unhappy life God gave to you Fucker.”
Gray T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Stop crying, you’re making me feel like a RAPIST!”
Pink T-shirt, red writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“WHY DO YOU CARE?!”
Purple T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Noble WARRIOR in Farsi; from SON to FATHER to SON; The STRONGEST man I know; I LOVE YOU. One day our kids will play together in the park.”
Green T-shirt, red writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You assaulted me the same you my dad died GO TO FUCKING HELL. I’m still scared to see you in this small town. PLEASE leave.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
A drawing of the devil face emoji.
Red T-shirt, black marker.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Daddy? Why did you call mommy a ‘cow’ and ‘pig’? Why did you yell at her again? Why did you take her life savings? Why do you blame her for wrongs? Why do you tell lies about mommy? Daddy? Why do you hate me enough not to pay child support?”
Gray T-shirt, orange writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“The police asked if you ‘tried to grab up on me,’ but you didn’t. You just kept chocking me, counting under your breath. I could (and still do) feel you heart beat fast, like you were nervous. Unable to fight anymore, I remember waiting to lose consciousness, seeing the faces of my family and partner in my mind and having sorrow for them. Yet, just as things became hazy, you let me go. I agonized for a while about why you let me go, but now I think that was your point…to make it clear to a woman walking alone that she was not safe or welcome to do so. Is that why you were counting? Were you afraid of accidentally going too far, and actually killing me? Nowadays, I look over my shoulder a lot. I still jolt awake while falling asleep because the sensation of drifting off feels like I am dying. But now I take basic care of myself everyday. I’m talking about my feelings and fears with people again. I walk less these days, but I say ‘thank you’ or ‘I love you’ SO much more, and I always mean it. I’m coming to terms with being fundamentally different now, but not all the change is bad. Every day is a chance to honor that woman I left behind on the sidewalk. Oh, and I think you should know, the police got enough of your DNA from my belongings after all. We have a photo of your face and car. You aren’t safe either.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You were my High school ‘sweetheart.’
Some ‘sweet’ memorable things you said to me were ‘you are nothing but a piece of meat’ or ‘no one likes you for your personality you know?’
If the constant verbal assault wasn’t enough, the subtle aggression, like ‘playfully’ chocking me until I was on the verge of unconsciousness should have been.
It wasn’t.
or you hitting me.
or you in college stalking me in the bar to hit me again after I broke off all communications.
or maybe when you kidnapped me blackout from the bar, thinking you OF COURSE had the right to my sleeping body in the Graduate parking lot. Waking up next to you confused about the bruises on my body under my shorts I don’t remember taking off.
I don’t think that’s what a high school sweetheart is supposed to be but what do I know? I’m just a ‘stupid fucking bitch,’ according to you.”
Pink T-shirt, red and green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I SHOULD HAVE ABORTED YOU -MOM (to me at 22).”
Brown T-shirt, orange writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I remained in an emotionally and sometimes physically abusive relationship for almost 2 years. I knew it was toxic, but I was scared to leave. I had bruises from him – in which he would swear up and down was an accident. I knew it wasn’t but accepted it because I didn’t want to be alone. He convinced people I was crazy, even convincing people to verbally assault me in public when I was trying to defend myself. There is more to this story but I am afraid if I say it, it will make me identifiable, and I don’t want any recourse from it. I say this to let people know, please trust your gut. You do not need to stay in an unhealthy relationship. Being alone, which you probably are not, is better than feeling like you’re constantly fighting for your peace. This is the most heartbreaking and confusing situation I’ve ever been in but I so badly want to move past it soon.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You Don’t Even Exist
You’re Just A Bad
Decision.”
Brown T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“SHE deserved better,” above a stick figure drawing of a girl.
Blue T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“It ate my alive every single day and I don’t remember really any of my childhood because of it.”
Green T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I was sexually abused from the ages of 9 to 11. We were the same gender and same age so I didn’t think anyone would believe me or take me seriously. The person that did this to me also did it to one of my friends and I blame myself for it happening to her because I didn’t say or do anything about it happening to me. At times I remember even initiating it just to have some sense of control since I knew it was going to happen anyways. It ate me alive every single day and I don’t really remember any of my childhood because of it. It’s been seven years since the last time they touched me and not a day goes by where I don’t think about what happened. It’s like it haunts me and no matter what I do, I can’t escape it. I still feel like it was my fault even though I know it wasn’t. Mentally and emotionally it has been so devastating that even when I was just a kid, I would contemplate taking my own life. I truly believed it was going to continue to happen to me forever.”
Printed anonymous submission. Black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Keep your hands to your fucking self. PIG. Go fuck yourself.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“Boys were saying disgusting things to me and in front of me.”
White T-shirt, blue writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I was 16, and your job was to keep me safe, YOU SICK FUCK!”
Green T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You told me I couldn’t play monkey in the middle when I was 5…All because I’m BROWN.”
Brown T-shirt, brown writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“That still is not an excuse.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“STOP!”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You robbed my friend of her safety, her sense of self, and a whole lot more. I’ve been there for every meeting about what to do, for every scared walk through the parking lot, for every late night panic attack, and for everything else that has come with this. So you better believe I’m gonna be there when we take you to court. Even if you get away with this, just know I’m a firm believer in the Christian faith. Rot in hell, motherfucker.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“ROT IN HELL, MOTHERFUCKER.”
Yellow T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“ME TOO.”
Yellow T-shirt, green writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You told me that I led you on. I did not give you consent to touch me.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“To my boyfriend: I hate what he did to you and the fear you felt to tell others. I hope that monster gets what he deserves, but you’re everything that’s good in this evil world.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“RUN AWAY! You made it.”
Green T-shirt, pink writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“For 5 years I was in a verbally and mentally abusive relationship. They always would tell me to do really awful and scary things to my mother. They would also threaten to post inappropriate pictures of me while I was underage.”
Gray T-shirt, brown writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“A man I thought was my friend sexually assaulted me in my home. I asked him about his girlfriend while he was attacking me in an effort to make him realize what he was doing. He said ‘She’s my fiancee now.’ I drove him home and his fiancee helped me get him inside. I tried to pretend it didn’t happen until I started having nightmares about men attacking me. I felt guilty — why didn’t I try harder to stop him? Why didn’t I call out for help? My ‘friends’ didn’t believe me or they turned against me. They lied about me. I was horrified and felt so alone. His now wife was the only person who said kind things about me. He was found responsible. I felt relieved, validated. I still had nightmares and looked out my window, but less. One day I realized I hadn’t thought about it or had a panic attack in weeks. I will never be completely over it, but I rarely think about it anymore. It does and will get better.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“I used to love walking to campus. You followed me on a dark night as I walked home. You came up from behind, took me to the ground, and immobilized me. Before you cupped your hand around my mouth, I screamed and begged for help but no one heard me. After busting my lip, you pinned by legs between yours and restrained my arms. You put my head in what I now know to be a ‘rear naked choke.’ The strain along gave me two black eyes; my neck was in so much pain I had to get a scan to confirm you hadn’t fractured anything.”
Printed anonymous submission, black text on white paper.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You were supposed to take care of me! Instead, all of the responsibility landed on me. What you were doing, you said everything was okay because of who you were to me. IT IS NEVER FUCKING OKAY! You were supposed to protect me! But you invaded me! FUCK YOU! I hope you rot in prison!”
Green T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“You told me I said yes…but I was blacked out. How could you do that 4 times to me. Jokes on you, MY SUFFERING TURNED INTO MY MEANING.”
Red T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
“For my mom, I am sorry you were silenced by him for SO LONG.”
Blue T-shirt, black writing.
Photo by HG Biggs.
T-shirts with quotes and stories from survivors of gender based violence hang on the student union terrace as part of UM RASA’s Clothesline exhibit on April 5, 2023. Photo by HG Biggs.
There are games where one team “has it” and the other simply doesn’t; Saturday was one of those days that Ole Miss didn’t. Iowa State made 70% of their shots, got 28
Ole Miss basketball heads to Tuscaloosa Tuesday, where they’ll face off with the Alabama Crimson Tide in their second road SEC contest of the season. The Rebels are coming off of a
The Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team topped the Florida Gators Sunday afternoon 76-66 in The Pavilion, marking the first time since February 2017 that the Rebels have strung together back-to-back SEC wins.
In Ole Miss’ first game back as a top-25 ranked team, they suffered possibly their worst loss of the season to the tigers of LSU, as LSU (13-3, 3-0) dispatched the Rebels
As Blake Hinson strides confidently from the Humphrey Coliseum floor, fresh off of hanging a career-high 26 points on Mississippi State, the freshman forward looked to a camera, repeatedly stating, “Whose state?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ei officiis assueverit pri, duo volumus commune molestiae ad, cum at clita latine. Tation nominavi quo id. An est possit adipiscing, error tation qualisque vel te. Stet
Ius ea rebum nostrum offendit. Per in recusabo facilisis, est ei choro veritus gloriatur. Has ut dicant fuisset percipit. At usu iusto iisque mandamus, simul persius complectitur at sit, aliquam moderatius elaboraret
Tanissa Ringo
