HAB event aims to raise domestic violence awareness
Written by Joe Castagna, Oct 3, 2011, 0 Comments
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the Harborside Activities Board will host the event “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” on Wed., Oct. 5 from noon to 4 p.m.
The event coordinators seek to raise awareness and offer information about services available to students who are victims of domestic violence with
“Sometimes people get caught up in a very unhealthy relationship that can lead to physical violence, but also control and manipulation that leads to a whole other level of violence,” said Leila Durr, a psychologist at the wellness center. “It’s important to spread awareness and let people know that if they ever find themselves in that sort of situation there are resources to help them.”
The Domestic Violence Awareness Project started Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and defines domestic violence as “a pattern of coercive controlling behavior that one partner exerts over another,” according to the organization’s website.
Abusive partners may use different tactics—like physical, sexual, emotional, or financial—to try to maintain control over their partner.
The USFSP Center for Counseling, Health and Wellness offers many services to students, like counseling and support to help victims cope with past or current abusive relationships. A victim advocate is also available to provide information, community referrals, and crisis response to all USFSP students who may be victims of crime, domestic or otherwise.
Awareness for Domestic Violence is represented by the color purple—homage to the movie “The Color Purple,” which deals with domestic violence.
“We will be handing out purple ribbons and water bottles to those who support domestic violence awareness at the event,” said Rebecca Rader, director of special events for HAB.
Rader said that many students, especially incoming freshmen, are unaware of the services are available to them.
“I know what is like to not be able to find help and how lonely it can be,” Rader said. “We want to let students know that someone is here to help you and that you are not alone”
There will also be a booth run by I Know My Plan, Inc., an organization that provides personal safety strategies and self-defense classes.
“Ninety percent of self-defense is risk reduction and 10 percent is physical resistance,” said Wendy Vazquez, president of I Know My Plan, Inc. “First we go over risk reduction strategies and progress to hands-on physical training.”
The training helps people learn how to stay out of harms way and defend themselves if they are in a violent situation.
“The best thing you can do when you find yourself in a violent situation is to fight back and turn your fear into aggression and have the attitude that how dare he hurt me,” Vazquez said.
The organization will offer training called Rape Aggression Defense for students at the beginning of November.
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USFSP Center for Counseling, Health and Wellness
117 Bayboro Hall
(727) 873-4422
USFSP Victim Advocate: (727) 612-2861
www.usfsp.edu/cchw
For more information visit:
Domestic Violence Awareness month
www.dvam.vawnet.org
I Know My Plan, Inc.
www.iknowmyplan.com
The R.A.D. System
www.rad-systems.com
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