"Take a stand," "Break the cycle" and "Love does not hurt" are among the encouraging words written on white T-shirts that hung two days from the second floor of Loftin Student Center.
The Non-Traditional Student Club participated in the Clothesline Project Tuesday to promote domestic violence awareness.
The Clothesline Project was developed in 1990 by a coalition of women's groups in Cape Cod, Mass., to develop a program that would educate, break the silence and bear witness to violence against women.
Six students walked from the empowerment center at Evergreen and Lewis streets to the second floor of Loftin with a clothesline holding 33 shirts. The club provided shirts for students to create their message Oct. 17 in the mall.
Ana Marchand, forensic science sophomore and president of the club, said she believes the overall goal of breaking the domestic violence cycle was achieved.
"If you don't admit and are not willing to make a change in your life to break the cycle, then nobody else is going to help you," she said.
She said by creating the shirts, the club stood as the voice for women who were not able to talk and for those who died.
Marchand said she organized the project on campus because she was in a violent relationship for seven years. "I lost everything – my house, and my marriage," she said. "I lost so much, but at the same time I gained so much because I gained the opportunity to start a new life."
She said she recognizes it's not easy to end a relationship, but women need to remember that in the end, getting help will be worth it.
Alison Bryant, biology and pre-nursing sophomore, said the march was personal because she was in an abusive relationship for six years.
Her shirt read, "Domestic violence can begin with emotional and verbal abuse."
Bryant said she dealt with abuse because it became comfortable, but she found her way out when she met somebody who supported her when she was ready to move out. "I feel lucky that I was able to get out within the first sign of physical abuse," she said. "I could've easily ended up dead in that relationship."
Bryant said other women who experience the first warning signs of physical abuse need to get out of that relationship.
For women who cannot seem to find their way out, Bryant said they need to let someone know; support can build enough strength to leave.
"So many women just keep quiet, keep silent," Bryant said.
Yvonne Palacios, social work freshman and club member, said she was in an abusive marriage for nine years. She was not able to make a shirt, but she said if she did, it would have encouraged women to be strong and talk to someone who can help them get out safely.
"I've learned to be strong and to do things for myself, be independent, and rely only on me," Palacios said, adding she lost someone close to her because of that relationship.
Palacios said for the past year, she has attended counseling sessions at the Rape Crisis Center, 7500 W. U.S. Highway 90. "They've helped me so much, and the women's empowerment center has helped me also," Palacios said. "I'm a different person now. I know I can succeed."
Palacios said women need only themselves and need to help themselves by getting out of the relationship no matter how bad it is because there's always someone who can help them.
"You can talk to anybody," she said. "It's never too late."
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