Voices For Victims Campaign Begins Today
Six weeks ago, a group of 12 students brainstormed possibilities that would enable students, alumni, and the public to offer their support to the victims of the alleged crimes committed by former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky.
“Ever since November, there’s been a lack of legitimate, sincere engagement with these 10 boys,” student Matt Bodenschatz said.
Today, a new campaign hopes to address that issue.
Voices for Victims is a 5-day project that invites anyone from the Penn State community, State College area, or the general public to write a personal letter or construct a card to show support for the alleged victims. The campaign starts today, Monday, April 23rd and ends Friday, April 27th. Penn State students and State College residents can deliver their messages to designated dropboxes in and around campus.
Junior Matt Bodenschatz has spearheaded the initiative, and is a victim of sexual abuse himself. In order to maintain confidentiality, he made arrangements for several victims’ legal counsels to deliver the letters and cards. The messages will then be rotated to ensure that each victim receives them.
The campaign’s motto is “Because ‘anonymous’ doesn’t have to mean ‘alone.'” Bodenschatz elaborated, “these people don’t have names. We know them as Victim 1, Victim 2, victim 3, etc., but they’re still real people.”
In addition to the dropbox option, there are digital and postal alternatives for anyone living outside of the State College area. Bodenschatz said that he plans on keeping these options available well beyond April to accomodate anyone unable to hand deliver any notes or letters.
“We’re still nowhere on really helping the survivors,” Bodenschatz explained. “I want to make sure that these incredible boys and young men are not marginalized or forgotten, and this team helped guarantee that. I can only optimistically hope that people of Penn State, State College, and everywhere take advantage of the opportunity we tried to create.”
The dropboxes will be placed at the following locations:
- Health Services (UHS) Bldg, Main Lobby, near the pharmacy
- Hintz Family Alumni Center, Main Lobby
- Sparks Building, Room 7 (Penn State Learning Computer Lab)
- Student Bookstore, 330 E. College Avenue
- Campus Candy, 346 E. College Avenue
Digital address: [email protected]
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/Voices4Victims
Postal address:
Voices for Victims
1637-B N. Atherton Street
PO Box 181
State College, PA 16803
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