Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Research indicates that in one out of five college dating relationships contains abuse. Many people don't speak out, and many don't even recognize the abuse. What if you could be the one to "Say Something"?
What is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?
This nationally recognized event began in October 1987, alongside the launch of the first national toll-free hotline for victims and survivors. In 1989 Congress designated the month officially for the first time. During October, advocates, educators, survivors, and loved ones and community come together to raise awareness and learn more about domestic violence with the goal of ending abuse for all and for good. You can learn more about national campaign efforts and more through resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
During October, the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech works with interns and volunteers as well as various campus and community partners to educate our community about topics like supporting survivors, local resources, bystander intervention, healthy relationships, and more. We know that domestic and dating violence occurs in our communities and happens to college students. To raise awareness of this point and increase our community's ability to recognize abuse among young people, we utilize the Red Flag Campaign.
What is the Red Flag Campaign?
This campaign is a statewide public awareness effort aimed at stopping relationship violence on college campuses in Virginia. The goal of the campaign is to encourage us all to speak up when we see red flags (or warning signs for potential abusive or unhealthy behaviors) in our friends' relationships. The campaign was created by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and is being used to prevent relationship violence in 49 states.
How Can You Participate?
We will be hosting events and outreach virtually and in person to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month and educate our community through the Red Flag Campaign in fall 2021.
| Date | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/4/21 | 12:00pm | Creating Supportive Communities: Empowering Survivors at Work | Newman Library Multipurpose Room |
| 10/5/21 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | DVAM Outreach Table | D2 |
| 10/6/21 | 7:00pm | SAVES Open Presentation: Healthy Relationships | Squires 232 |
| 10/7/21 | 7:00pm | Love It, Like It, or Leave It: Healthy Relationships and Spotting Red Flags | LGBTQ+ Resource Center |
| 10/8/21 | 3:00pm | Friday Flix: Happily Ever After & Healthy Relationships | Women's Center Lower Level |
| 10/11 - 10/14 | 8:00am - 5:00pm | Clothesline Project: Tshirt Making Workshop Space | Women's Center- Check In at Front Desk |
| 10/12/21 | 9:00am - 5:00pm | Clothesline Project Display | College Ave.- Draper Road to Main Street |
| 10/12/21 | 5:30pm | Bringing In The Bystander Open Workshop | Women's Center Lower Level |
| 10/13/21 | 12:00pm - 2:00pm | DVAM Outreach Table | Owens |
| 10/14/21 | 11:00am - 1:00pm | DVAM Outreach Table | D2 |
| 10/14/21 | 7:00pm | SAVES Open Presentation: Healthy Relationships | Squires Brush Mtn A |
| 10/18/21 | 7:00pm | SAVES Open Presentation: Helathy Relationships | Squires 300 |
| 10/19/21 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | DVAM Outreach - Power & Control | Pritchard Hall |
| 10/20/21 | 11:30am - 2:00pm | DVAM Outreach - Power & Control | D2 |
| 10/22/2021 | 3:30pm | Winddown at the Women's Center | GobblerConnect |
| SAVES Service Week | |||
| 10/25/21 | 12:00-1:00pm | Creating Supportive Communities: Empowering Survivors at Work | Newman Library Multipurpose Room |
| 10/25/21 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Percentage Night: Women's Resource Center of the NRV | UCB Panda Express |
| 10/26/21 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | DVAM Outreach - Consent & Coercion | Lavery Plaza |
| 10/26/21 | 7:00pm | SAVES Open Presentation: Consent & Sexual Violence | Women's Center Lower Level |
| 10/27/21 | 11:30am - 2:00pm | DVAM Outreach - Consent & Coercion | D2 |
| 10/28/21 | 12:00pm | SVPC Reads: Virtual Book Club Registration Required - Free copies of the book for the first 15 registrants! |
Zoom |
| 10/27/21 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Percentage Night: Women's Resource Center of the NRV | UCB Panera |
| 10/28/21 | 7:00pm | After Care Package Making | Squires Brush Mountain A |
| 10/29/21 | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | My Costume Is NOT Consent Outreach | TBD Downtown: Moe's or Sharkey's |
| 11/11/21 | 4:30pm | Bringing In The Bystander Open Workshop | Virtual |
Interested in focusing on Bystander skills related to relationship violence? Check out our Bringing In The Bystander program and request a workshop.
Want to have a conversation about topics like healthy relationships and boundaries with peers? Check out our SAVES peer educators and the presentations and discussions they offer.
Interested in something longer than 30 minutes or tailored for a special audience? Email Katie2@vt.edu to talk about what else the Women's Center can provide for you on this topic.
If you have further question, email Katie.
