As October, domestic violence awareness month, comes to an end, the Office of Victims Assistance strives to raise awareness on campus. During the “Hands are Not for Hurting” event, on Nov. 7 during common time, students will be given the opportunity to sign their name and place their hand print on a banner as a pledge to end domestic violence.
“I am really hurt to see students who are struggling in silence, and I want them to know we want everyone to come into our office and take advantage of our resources,” said Samantha Cacace, an intern for the OVA.
The event, organized by Samantha Cacace, Itali Jackson, and the rest of the Office of Victims Assistance will give students information on the resources provided by their office. The OVA is located in 104 Crawford, and provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence. Their services include: counseling services, forensic exams, STI testing and treatment, housing options, legal prosecution and more. “We hope for the event to raise awareness of the issue, especially on campus. A lot of students do not realize there are different types of domestic violence,” Cacace said. “Domestic violence includes sexual violence, physical violence, financial violence, and more.”
There are many instances where students do not realize they are involved in a domestic violence relationship, or have experienced domestic violence relationships in the past.
“These types of relationships happen with students on campus, and many students need their peers, family, and friends to help them,” Cacace said.
“A lot of domestic violence stems from experiences students have had in the past, especially in the home before they have come to campus. If they are not experiencing domestic violence now, students are still being affected by the past violence that is now affecting their college relationships,” Cacace said.
According to Cacace, the event will be held during common time to give many students the opportunity to attend. Attending the event will not only provide support for the students who are experiencing violence, but will also provide guidance for students who have friends lacking information on how to handle these situations. Many students need the people around them to provide them with an outlet, someone who can listen to what is going on in their lives and identify the violence in their relationships.
“I want students to be aware of the resources the Office of Victims Assistance provides.” Cacace said. “Many students do not know counseling sessions are free and included in their tuition. I am hoping the students who need it come forward to allow us to aid them in what they are going through.”
Cacace and her supervisor, Itali, work to acknowledge the issue by attempting to make domestic violence awareness events more annual on campus.
The ‘Hands are Not for Hurting’ event will occur during common time, 11:00 a.m-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 7th, on campus green in front of DIGS. For more information on domestic violence, students are encouraged to contact The Office of Victims Assistance in the Crawford Building office 104, or by telephone at 803-323-2206.
Graphic: Lizzie Talbert/ The Johnsonian
