October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and Saint Xavier will be participating in the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Week of Action.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence created Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1981.
Derived from the Day of Unity, the purpose of the project was to help connect individuals across the nation and end domestic violence.
According to ncadv.org, “On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.”
More than ten million men and women are abused every year.
From physical abuse and sexual abuse, to psychological and emotional abuse, to threatening, stalking, and cyberstalking, domestic violence comes in different forms.
While a majority of sources show women as the victims of domestic violence, domestic violence affects all genders and age groups.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says that 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime.
1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year.
Moreover, NCAD research also shows that approximately “20.9% of female high school students and 13.4% of male high school students report being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.”
Domestic violence has become a nationwide issue, and while many campaigns exist to help end the violence, the Affordable Care Act also looked to provide aid to victims of domestic violence.
The ACA ensures domestic violence survivors have affordable access to healthcare.
This healthcare includes requiring all insurance plans to include screening and brief counseling for domestic and/or intimate partner violence.
In their efforts to stand with the campaigns against domestic violence, SXU will spend the week promoting different awareness events around campus.
On Monday from 11am-1pm, SXU will promote the Tech Safety App and the #31n31 campaign. #31n31 is a campaign that utilizes social media to share victim’s’ stories.
Tuesday, October 17, Saint Xavier Council will continue the social media campaign by hosting a bilingual discussion on Twitter about #Safety4Survivors.
Wednesday, October 18, from 11am-1pm in the diner, students can talk about why they say “NO MORE” to domestic violence.
Thursday, October 19 is #PurpleThursday. SXC asks the campus community to wear purple all day to show support for ending domestic violence.
Students, faculty, and staff can share pictures on social media with #PurpleThursday to show their support nationally.
At 1pm in the Shannon Center, a group photo will be taken with the entire SXU community.
Also on Thursday, the School of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Omicron Chapter and SXU Alumni Relations will present Scholarly Conversations in Nursing.
The discussion will be on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
IPV is a serious public health problem that affects millions of Americans.
The talk will take place at 7pm in McGuire Hall, and be moderated by Charles W. Dahm, O.P., Chicago Archdiocesan Director of Domestic Violence Outreach, St. Pius V Parish.
The events planned are sponsored by the Saint Xavier Council and Campus life. For questions on the events, contact he Department of Student Activities.
For victims of domestic violence, you can visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-7233.
Cheyanne Daniels
News Editor