Organizations such as the Women's Center, Cultural Resource Center and Omega Phi Beta sorority aren't sitting back this October.
As part of "Domestic Violence Awareness Month," they're facilitating discussions on campus about the prevalence of domestic violence.
"In the college setting, we more commonly use the term ‘relationship violence,' over domestic violence, because not all college students ‘share a domicile,' for example ‘live with' the people with whom they are in relationships," said Jeannette Johnson-Licon, director of the Cultural Resource Center.
Johnson-Licon explained that relationship violence is typically defined as "violence that occurs between people who know each other." The violence may be physical, emotional or sexual and can include threats, intimidation, harassment, forced behavior (such as confinement) and financial abuse."
"Relationship violence is an issue for many college students, because this is the first time that they have had both the opportunity and relative autonomy to actively pursue romantic and sexual relationships," Johnson-Licon said.
In conjunction with this month's events, the DePauw Violence Intervention/Prevention Project has begun planning for an educational campaign, entitled "The Red Flag Campaign." The campaign is scheduled to start in November and will focus on healthy relationships, recognizing the signs of unhealthy relationships and ways to help friends in need.
"We've been planning this campaign since last spring when it was confirmed that we had received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice," Johnson-Licon said. "We have also used the grant to bring in campus speakers (Jackson Katz and Don McPherson), sponsor trainings for first responders, hire additional staff for the Violence Intervention/Prevention Project and purchase equipment for future trainings and events."
In all, there will be a poster campaign, a radio public service announcement, conversations, workshops and other events to address the question, "What is a healthy relationship?"
Some of those unhealthy aspects are explored through a series of 12 posters designed for the month's events.
The posters feature students of different genders and ethnic backgrounds with red flags raised in front of their mouths depicting the various types of dating violence, including coercion, jealousy, stalking, emotional abuse, sexual assault, isolation and victim blaming. On the other side of the posters, signs of a healthy relationship are given. These and other educational materials will be provided to students during the campaign.
"People learn about relationships in a wide variety of ways. They learn at home, in the classroom and by experiencing relationships," Johnson-Licon said. "Having campus conversations about what constitutes healthy relationships is another opportunity for people to think critically about what kind of relationships that they want to have."
Yet the conversations won't be limited to campus. The Cultural Resource Center has worked with Putnam County Family Support to provide training for first responders in the community, particularly police officers and clergy.
Omega Phi Beta sorority, too, has been planning events to raise awareness of sexualized violence.
"We're doing a campus-wide art project, like what we did last year, putting purple ribbons on all the trees," said senior Michelina Ferrara, vice president and social, cultural and academic chair of Omega Phi Beta. "The year before that, we did suitcases that lined across academic quad."
"We'll also have an event to end this month. On Oct. 26, the Wednesday night, we will try to get everybody from all different organizations and all parts of campus to come out and say that violence is not OK in our campus community and it's not OK ever," Ferrar said. "The night shouldn't be a time that women are scared to walk through campus. It shouldn't be a time that women are called by negative names by what they're wearing. The nighttime should be ours as any other time. It's a beautiful mission, and it's something that we care deeply and strongly about."
Ultimately, the month's events will focus on awareness of the issue and ways to prevent and identify domestic violence.
"More subtle things in an unhealthy relationship could lead to a more vulnerable situation," said Sarah Ryan, director of the Women's Center. "There are a lot of signals that could be future problems in a relationship. Educating yourself of what they are, you can fit them into your own relationship. And if you recognize those and going to talk to someone, coming to the Women's Center and coming to the Wellness Center to talk to a counselor. Even talk to your RA or your first-year mentor or friends to get resources on campus."
DePauw has a wide variety of services for students experiencing domestic violence.
Public Safety remains on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students can call the DePauw Sexual Assault Survivor Advocates (SASA) 24-hour hotline at (765) 658-4650. Student life offices, including the office of the dean of students and the Women's Center, provide support and resources for victims and survivors. The DePauw Wellness Center provides health services and counseling. The Violence Intervention/Prevention Project provides information, programs and resources on preventing sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.
