College officials removed some of the hundreds of colorful shirts flapping in the rain and wind at the University of Maryland, College Park campus Thursday because they named suspects in sexual assault cases.

“The clothesline project sets a tone that sex crimes are never tolerated and encourages victims to speak out,” said Jennifer Pollitt-Hill, executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Some victims remain plagued with society’s unwillingness to address rape and assault – and disturbed by the university’s instructions not to name their attackers.

“This is the one outlet for victim expression,” participant Chelsey Frankel said. “It demonstrates a lack of campus support.”

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The Health Administration was concerned about being held responsible for defamation,

said Maddy, a UM student who did not give her last name because she was the victim of a sexual assault.

“I wasn’t going to write a name,” she said, “but no one has the right to tell me what I can do.”

Students draped dark green shirts protesting the censorship to represent the shirts UM deemed inappropriate.

“Because you’re on a sports team, your feelings are more important than mine,” one shirt read, referring to an alleged attacker being a prominent athlete. Clothesline Project women said school officials were in effect determining whose story was worth

sharing, and whose was inappropriate.

“This limitation seems to qualify certain experiences and silences others,” said Andrea Dolan, another participant.

Dolan had alerted school officials about her attacker, who was then removed from the university and kicked off his sports team.

“But I’m still not allowed to say his name,” she said. Dolan’s shirt was removed from this year’s display.

While the suppression of rape and assault victims raised eyebrows for some, many other students attended the event just to show their support.

“(Censorship) doesn’t affect me, but no one should censor themselves,” senior Caitlin Chamberlain said. “Why protect the attacker?”

U.Md. students gathered throughout the day and demonstrated their support for family members and friends who were victimized.

“I’m here to support my friend,” Aaron Shapiro, a U.Md. freshman said. “I love her and still think of her.”

lduffy@baltimoreexaminer.com