Domestic and Dating Violence Awareness Month is a month where we recognize and come together to support those affected by interpersonal violence and to spread awareness. Events are hosted by the Barnes Center at The Arch health and wellness team and Peer Educators Encouraging Healthy Relationships and Sexuality in collaboration with other University offices and departments.
Be sure to show your support on campus at these events:
- Clothesline Project:
- Barnes Center at The Arch | Oct. 21-31
- Bird Library | Oct. 21-28
- Wear Purple Day | October 24
- Candlelight Vigil | October 24, 7 p.m. | Hendricks Chapel Steps
Domestic violence presents in many forms. Challenge yourself to learn more about the forms of abuse and domestic violence statistics. The more we know, the more we can help stop abuse. Some national statistics provided by The National Domestic Violence Hotline include:
- Approximately 1 in 3 college students experience relationship violence.
- Nearly 3 in 10 women (29%) and 1 in 10 men (10%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by a partner.
- Nearly half of all women and men in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime (48.4% and 48.8%, respectively).
- Women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experienced the highest rates of intimate partner violence.
Aside from understanding the numbers, there are many ways to make a difference, help someone you know or even get help yourself. Here are some simple steps you can take if you would like to support a person impacted by violence:
- Find resources. It can be overwhelming to learn about violence especially when it is against a person you know. You do not need to feel like you are alone and responsible for helping someone. Learn about the resources available to anyone experiencing violence but also seek resources for yourself.
- Educate yourself on what domestic violence is, who it can and does affect and what potential signs of abuse may look like. You do not need to be an expert to help others but having a baseline level of knowledge can be helpful for you and whoever else may be impacted.
- Create or find a safe space where someone experiencing violence may turn to. This can be a private place on campus, a public location such as a coffee shop or even a friend’s house. The goal is to find an environment where the person feels safe and not pressured to do or say anything.
There are a variety of resources to be aware of both on- and off-campus including:
- : 315.443.8000
- Available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year
- : 315.443.8000
- : 315.443.4357
- : 315.468.3260
- : 1.800.942.6906
- : 1.800.799.7233
Written by Ailene Casado ’20, College of Arts and Sciences, Peer Educator Encouraging Healthy Relationships and Sexuality