Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to reflect on and work to end the crisis of domestic, relationship and partner violence in our nation.
As part of our continuing work to be a national leader in Title IX, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to preventing relationship violence in all forms, including dating and domestic violence involving members of our university community.
To that end, we are building an environment at VCU where every voice matters and where all members of our faculty, staff and student body are empowered to have healthy relationships. No one at VCU should ever face the specter of fear related to violence or threats of violence, or retaliation for reporting such incidents. That is why we have invested more than $1 million in the last year to strengthening our efforts not only to comply with the requirements of Title IX but to ensure that we are a national model.
We are also working to stop intimate partner violence before it occurs through education and prevention efforts, including:
- A screening of the poignant film “The Hunting Ground,” scheduled for 6 pm today in Harris Hall Auditorium, followed by a Resource Fair with free food and beverages.
- Title IX “Not Anymore” training for students, which is ongoing.
- Enhancing outreach to parents and families of our students about how to have a conversation on relationship violence.
As one of the nation’s premier research universities, we focus on society’s biggest problems. This certainly includes domestic, relationship and partner violence. And we commit — in October and beyond — that every member of our community is free to live, work, learn, create and discover in an environment of empowerment, trust and healthy relationships. Thanks to those who lead this effort on behalf of VCU. For more information about healthy relationships, visit the Wellness Resource Center. For more information about Title IX at VCU, visit Equity and Access Services.
For more ways to get involved, including #PurpleThursday on Oct. 22, please visit the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
Categories Uncategorized