Recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month at USU
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Utah State University statewide campuses are acknowledging the month with fundraisers, events and seminars.
Students and staff are encouraged to wear purple every Wednesday to spread awareness and show support for survivors.
The university’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office, SAAVI, has organized all events for the month, kicking off with the Clothesline Project on Oct. 3 at the Logan campus.
The Clothesline Project is a visual display of t-shirts with messages and illustrations created by survivors of assault and abuse and those who have lost someone they loved to domestic violence. The project represents the violence statistics that are largely ignored.
The t-shirts will be displayed at dining services locations throughout the month and have been made by people within the Cache Valley community.
The university’s Sexual Misconduct Survey found that approximately 1 in 15 students and staff will experience relationship violence across all campuses.
Felicia Gallegos is the outreach and prevention coordinator for SAAVI at campuses statewide.
“It all comes down to realizing that relationship violence is a lot more common than we think,” Gallegos said.
She explained there are barriers to seeking help, and because of that, survivors do not always come forward in cases of domestic violence.
“It’s important to raise awareness that domestic violence happens and is very common,” Gallegos said. “It’s important that we draw attention to that, so that we can help people who are in unhealthy relationships recognize that what they are experiencing is not what they deserve.”
On the Logan campus, info-booths about domestic violence resources in the community will be set up in the Taggart Student Center and Merrill-Cazier Library, alternating weekly throughout the month.
At the end of the month, USU is partnering with the Lauren McCluskey Foundation to host a memorial walk along the Logan campus track to honor Lauren McCluskey, a student at the University of Utah who was killed by her dating partner on campus in 2018.
“I would encourage people to — even if it makes them a little uncomfortable — to expose themselves to what’s going on over the month,” Gallegos said.
SAAVI has two branches, the first being survivor services, which provides confidential advocacy and therapy to survivors of any form of violence within the campus community — domestic/sexual violence, discrimination and hate crimes.
The second branch is outreach and prevention, which is focused on engaging in conversations about consent and healthy relationships. SAAVI organizes trainings, workshops and events and works with the Office of Equity to organize the incoming student sexual misconduct trainings.
Survivor services are available to everyone across the statewide system. Advocates can set up virtual meetings from Logan or help get people connected to resources in their area.
Gallegos also facilitated and organized the same events across all USU campuses for October.
Another resource for students and staff is the Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Assault center. CAPSA is Cache Valley’s local domestic violence and rape recovery center. They are recognizing domestic violence awareness month with the tagline “Stand for Someone.”
CAPSA representatives will be going to the city councils in Cache Valley to discuss what it means to stand for someone, the impact of domestic violence in the community and the importance of resources like CAPSA.
Students are encouraged to volunteer.
Alyna Ohling is the community engagement director of CAPSA. She stressed that the center is a safe space for anyone impacted by domestic violence.
“We help men, women and children, no matter their age, or the culture that they come from or their background,” Ohling said. “When survivors come to us, we believe them, and our ultimate goal is wanting to help in the way they are needing help.”
To kick off, a wine-pairing fundraiser will be held on Oct. 1 at CAPSA, where attendees are encouraged to wear purple ribbons in recognition of and as a message of solidarity for domestic violence survivors.
“It’s multi-faceted, but when you look at the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, they’re complex, and people don’t want to talk about it,” Ohling said. “If we don’t talk about it, and we don’t address it as an issue, it’s hard to do anything to really stop the problem.”
Students across all USU campuses can refer to these resources for help and guidance:
Utah Sexual Violence Crisis Line 888-421-1100 | ucasa.org/resources
Utah Domestic Violence Hotline 800-897-5465 | udvc.org/resources
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-4673 | rainn.org/resources
National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 | ncadv.org/get-help
VictimConnect Resource Center 855-484-2846 | victimconnect.org
StrongHearts Native Helpline 844-762-8483 | strongheartshelpline.org
SafeUT Download the free app or call 833-372-3388 to chat or talk confidentially to a trained therapist.
To get involved with SAAVI, sign up for the monthly newsletter at usu.edu/saavi/get-involved to find opportunities to volunteer.