How To Bring Silent Witness to Your Campus
There are several ways to bring the Silent Witness project to your college community. Any concerned club, organization, sorority, fraternity, women’s group, class or cohort of interested students can spearhead efforts to have your campus participate.
You can make your own figures, order pre-made witnesses (see more information on figures in the “Resources” section of the site) or borrow those that exist within the exhibit in your city or state. Your program can be as simple as displaying the figures for a day in your student center or as involved as holding a daylong conference about domestic violence that includes speakers and workshops.
It is effective to tie the Silent Witnesses into events on your campus such as October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, March as Women’s History Month, a Take Back the Night March or any other appropriate event.
You might also consider partnering with other organizations, on or off campus, to help in your coordination activities. There are many wonderful women’s centers, women’s studies departments, and local women’s organizations that could be ideal co-sponsors for this type of program. By using a partnership strategy, you can benefit from their existing expertise while expanding the reach of Silent Witness and its mission.
Purpose and Impact:
The Silent Witness Exhibit uses life-sized red silhouettes to honor individuals murdered by intimate partners. On college campuses, it creates a deeply emotional and educational experience, prompting awareness, dialogue, and healing around domestic violence. Students often approach organizers afterward to share personal stories, seek help, or ask how to get involved.
Collaboration and Setup:
The exhibit works best when coordinated with campus departments such as Women’s Studies, Social Work, Psychology, or Art. Displays can be indoors or outdoors—grassy areas are especially powerful. Combining the exhibit with existing campus events (like Take Back the Night) builds visibility and reduces setup effort.
Presentation Structure
- Planning: Partner with a department sponsor; select an appropriate venue (hallway, classroom, or outdoor field).
- Student Involvement: Students can help transport, set up, and even read the stories. Each student represents a Witness, holding a candle as they say the name and story, then extinguish it to symbolize loss.
- Script Format:
- Begin: “My name IS [Name]…”
- End: “My name WAS [Name]… Remember my name.”
- Closing Message: Encourage action—speak out, support survivors, and promote awareness.
- Optional Healing Ritual:
- Use a bowl of water, salt (symbolizing tears), and stones with victims’ names.
- Invite participants to take a stone to remember and share the story.
Support Resources:
Printed information on domestic violence prevention is essential. Partner with campus counseling, local shelters, and domestic-violence coalitions for professional follow-up and support.
Additional Ideas:
- Distribute purple ribbons with victims’ names.
- Set up remembrance trees or donation baskets for shelters.
- Include speakers from rape crisis or domestic-violence centers.
- Provide relevant books or resource tables.
Core Message:
The Silent Witness Exhibit is both a memorial and a call to action. It transforms grief into awareness and silence into advocacy—reminding participants that healing others also heals ourselves.
For questions about creating a college campus exhibit
Jennifer Stanley
Roger Williams University Rhoad Island – Programs and Initiatives Directed at Campus Community
jstanley@rwu.edu
401-254-3123