To educate students about the warning signs of relationship violence and the resources available, the Virginia Tech Police Department has partnered with the One Love Foundation to activate the entire campus in a movement to end relationship violence.
Relationship violence is a societal epidemic affecting people of every age, race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Although young adults age 16-24 are at greatest risk, they often don’t think relationship violence happens to them, according to Loveisrespect, a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Yet, according to the same study, 57 percent of college students admit that it is difficult to identify an abusive relationship and 58 percent say that they would not know how to offer help to someone who is in a domestically violent situation.
On March 23, Team One Love @ Virginia Tech will host an Escalation Workshop from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Public Safety Building at 330 Sterrett Drive, Blacksburg, VA, 24060.
The Escalation Workshop consists of a 40-minute film (educate) followed by a 40-minute guided discussion (empower) geared toward helping students understand the warning signs of abuse, while also promoting healthy relationships. These pieces are followed by a 10-minute activation piece, directed at students who want to start the conversations in their own community by getting involved.
“If one of our students is experiencing relationship violence or has a friend that is, we want them to recognize those warning signs and have the resources to get out safely,” said Corporal Kendrah Cline of the Virginia Tech Police Department. “It’s important to us that our students and employees know that we care about them.”
“If one of our students is experiencing relationship violence or has a friend that is, we want them to recognize those warning signs and have the resources to get out safely,” said Corporal Kendrah Cline of the Virginia Tech Police Department. “It’s important to us that our students and employees know that we care about them.”
This event is the first of what the police department hopes will be many One Love Foundation activities on campus in the coming years.
The One Love Foundation was founded in 2010 after University of Virginia student Yeardley Love was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend. The goal of the foundation is to honor Love’s memory and end dating and relationship violence through education and empowerment across college campuses.
Parking is available in the Southgate and Coliseum lots. Individuals can also ride BT to the Coliseum stop.
Virginia Tech also offers multiple resources for individuals suffering from domestic violence or abuse or have questions about the signs of an abusive situation.
For more information visit the Police Department website or contact Cline at 231-6411.
— Courtesy of Virginia Tech
