Penn State Students share sexual violence stories through the Peace Paper Project
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — April is sexual assault awareness and prevention month. It can be a traumatizing time for some individuals as they relive some of their past encounters with sexual violence.
The Peace Paper Project brings awareness to this issue. The project uses ancient, handcrafted paper in order to share survivors’ stories and bring awareness to sexual violence.
On Wednesday, Penn State’s Gender Equity Center partnered with the Peace Paper Project in order for students to make paper and hang them on a clothesline to share their stories at the HUB Robeson Center.
Becca Wallen is the associate director of the Gender Equity Center. She said hanging up these messages is essential for survivors to reclaim their voices.
“Some are Penn State specific, some are about victims survivors and it's really about spreading the message,” Wallen said. “Supporting survivors and taking something painful, and turning it into something beautiful and something we can all do together.”
Messages such as “I believe you” and “Love shouldn't hurt” swayed in the breeze for students to see as they walked by.
According to the Peace Paper Project website, the paper “has become a beacon for socially engaged art.”
Drew Mattot is the co-director of the Peace Paper Project. He said that making paper is a way of therapy for survivors.
“It's certainly important on all college campuses to raise awareness about violence. It’s something that affects every single student, every single American, every single person in the world,” Mattot said. “So, raising awareness about violence and figuring out ways to stop violence is the only way to intervene with the cycle of violence.”
Jacob Cheris is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jacobcheris19@gmail.com
