On Thursday, students passing through the Otter Student Union (OSU) were greeted by Brandon Doman, founder of The Strangers Project, as he delicately strung up dozens of anonymous stories and secrets across a twine gradient. Each page was held up with wooden clothespins, all on the same type of paper and crafted with the same type of pen– yet each unique in voice and intention.
“This all actually started back in 2009,” Doman said. “I’ve always been curious to learn about people and their stories. When I first started, I was fresh out of undergrad and watching people pass by outside of a little coffee shop. So I opened my notebook, grabbed a marker and wrote a sign inviting people to come sit down and tell me about their life. There was no big plan–I just thought it would be a fun way to meet some strangers. But then people started writing, and the whole idea really seemed to resonate…and here we are, 95,000 stories later.”
Doman has a permanent space at the World Trade Center Oculus building in New York City.
“It’s like a story museum where thousands of stories are on display every day,” Doman shares. “However, I like to bring this project to schools, museums, festivals and public spaces. It’s the same idea everywhere–just different in shape and size. This project has traveled to over 100 cities.”
The stories caught the attention of many students and staff, garnering long pauses to step up and read through many of the displayed confessions. Some students were emboldened and inspired to pick up a clipboard and pen – provided by Doman – and share their own stories, anonymously..
“All 95,000 stories have been written on these same clipboards, all in person,” Doman said.
He emphasized that the project remains intentionally simple: a clipboard, a black ink pen and a blank piece of paper. Whatever comes to those willing to share must come in the moment and never with a name. The entire process is designed to give voices power without a face – anonymity, bringing community, allowing those sharing to be vulnerable or even pose questions to future readers.
Eli, a third-year psychology major who declined to share their full name in the project’s spirit of anonymity, shared their experience participating in the project.
“It’s comforting reading through all the stories – to know my unique experiences may not be so unique. It’s also kind of sad,” they said. “I was surprised to find out that there is just one person running all of this!”
The Strangers Project, is operated solely by Doman and is completely free to participate in. He does, however, accept donations to help keep the project on the move.
For more information, you can follow along the journey of the project on Instagram @strangersproj.
Doman left behind two panels for display in the OSU. Visitors can find them on both the second and third floors of the building.
And if you were a student who was brave enough to share your story, keep an eye out on the page; your story may just end up on their Instagram feed, or on display with the rest of the ever-growing archive.