10/08/2024
Throughout October, SUNY Cortland’s entrance lights will shine purple to highlight National Domestic Violence Month, drawing attention to an issue that claims victims across all age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, education and economic levels.
But that’s not all the university is doing to help combat domestic and sexual violence.
Members of SUNY Cortland’s It’s On Us Action Team will join the student club Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) to raise awareness about interpersonal violence and offer resources to individuals seeking support. Prevention Awareness, Health Promotion and the Title IX Office are also involved in the awareness campaign.
The effort includes a variety of campus activities and events:
“An Empty Seat at the Table.” Tables in the Student Life Center and in Corey Union will offer a symbolic reminder of the cost of abuse. “An Empty Seat at the Table” display features an empty seat and place setting as a reminder of the lives lost to domestic violence. On the plates and silverware are facts about domestic violence and resources for those who need it. The exhibit will run through Friday, Oct. 11 in the Student Life Center lobby and from Monday, Oct. 14 to Thursday, Oct. 24 in Corey Union.
Consent Carts. Students tired of walking around campus should keep an eye out for Consent Carts. These are golf carts that offer to drive students to on-campus destinations in exchange for a discussion about consent and sexual violence prevention. One Consent Cart program occurred early this month and at least one more is planned.
“Red Flag Campaign.” An ongoing social media “Red Flag Campaign” illustrates how to recognize the different warning signs in relationships. Signs about unhealthy relationships are posted on the Its On Us Instagram account in collaboration with the Aid to Victims of Violence. Also, Red Flags have been placed around campus to illustrate unhealthy signs of relationships.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Healthy Relationship Trivia with Marisa Cohen will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room. Cohen is a national author and speaker and will seek to lighten the atmosphere while addressing the serious topic of collegiate domestic abuse when she emcees "Healthy Relationship Trivia."
Take Back the Night March is set for Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. at the steps of Corey Union. The campus march is part of an international event aimed at encouraging people to actively fight to end sexual and domestic violence in all forms.
For local resources, there are university Instagram accounts for SAFER at sunycortlandsafer and It’s On Us at sunycortland_itsonus. For additional help, visit www.thehotline.org/get-help/domestic-violence-local-resources.