Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast raises awareness for domestic violence

Thursday, October 3, 2019
Graphic by Nicolette Baker

Southeast observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month every October to raise awareness for interpersonal relationship violence, as well as to give an opportunity to connect survivors with necessary resources.

This year, the Campus Violence and Prevention program will host three events to provide education and resources, as well as support for survivors.

“It’s important to do these events to emphasize the size of this problem,” said Donna St. Sauver, Campus Violence and Prevention program coordinator.

Nearly half of all college-aged women experience dating violence, according to the domestic violence resource website loveisrespect.com, a resource provided by the National Domestic Abuse Hotline.

“The #MeToo movement, and everything that’s come along with that, I believe has gone a long way with reducing the shame [of being a victim of domestic violence], which allows survivors to be more open,” St. Sauver said. “That’s important because that’s when they get more support.”

The first event of the month will be the annual Clothesline Project from Oct. 1 through Oct. 3, according to Counseling and Disability Graduate Assistant Emily Heinlein.

The Southeast student said she has been heavily involved not only in planning events, but also taking on a larger mentorship role through her involvement in them.

At the Clothesline Project, survivors will be able to create T-shirts to express their experience with domestic violence, St. Sauver said.

Those not personally affected by domestic violence can still show their support through decorating clothespins, which help display the tees created by survivors.

The Campus Violence Prevention program will also host a “Team UP! Against DV!” tailgate at the Oct. 5 football game versus Tennessee Tech.

In this event, CVP will team up with Redhawks Rising and feature community partners such as the Safe House for Women.

The goals of the event are to introduce information and resources for survivors of interpersonal violence as well as to raise awareness through the use of purple, a color designated to represent support for domestic violence survivors.

Prior to the event, CVP will provide purple shirts for individuals to wear during the tailgate. All those in “Team UP! Against DV!” T-shirts will gather for a group photo during the event.

During the home football game against Tennessee Tech, Southeast players will wear purple ribbons on their helmets, Heinlein said. Some Department of Public Safety officers will wear purple “Team UP! Against DV!” T-shirts as well, she said.

The final event, Nacho Macho Man, will be held Oct. 16 and will feature a nacho bar and roundtable event. Held at the Kent Library Portico, the event will tackle defining the difference between toxic masculinity and healthy masculinity.

For more information or for resources on domestic violence, please contact Counseling and Disability Services at 573-986-6191 or at Crisp Hall room 201.

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