While October is a busy month for most students on campus with midterms approaching and football games in full swing, it is an even busier month for Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment.
PAVE is a student-run organization dedicated to ending sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking through education and activism. This month is very significant to PAVE’s work because October has been nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month since 1987 to increase public awareness and spur action to end domestic violence. PAVE’s work to end domestic violence (or intimate partner violence) on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus culminates in October. Many students, however, think that dating violence is not an issue that is relevant to their lives. However, statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence show that one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and women aged 20-24 years are at the highest risk.
It is important to note that it is possible for anyone, regardless of sex, gender, race, class, sexual orientation, dis/ability, etc., to be affected by domestic violence. It is for this reason that PAVE and many other organizations offer a very broad definition of intimate partner violence. It is an ongoing pattern of behavior in a relationship where one person exerts power and control over the other. The term “intimate partner violence” is also more inclusive of the different relationships students in a college environment may identify with.
It is also important to remember physical violence is not the only form of abuse. Emotional, verbal or sexual abuse can occur as well, and also have long lasting effects on the victim or survivor. The psychological effects of intimate partner violence are incredibly hard to expunge. In addition to worrying about all of the stresses of school, those experiencing intimate partner violence experience fear and blame, and many other distressing emotions.
Next time you are sitting in class, look around. Think about how many of your fellow Badgers may be survivors of (or are currently involved in) an abusive relationship. While this is scary to think about, it is also why PAVE is so dedicated to this cause.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, the following behaviors can be red flags: intimidation, destroying property, name calling, mind games, isolation from other friends, extreme jealousy, denial or minimizing of the abuse, controlling money, making all the decisions or coercian. Abuse can look very different in different kinds of relationships.
PAVE believes that everyone should be aware of intimate partner violence and also know about the resources available to survivors and friends of survivors here in Madison. We hope that everyone knows that it is okay to ask for help in these kinds of situations and that we can all work towards creating a safer community for survivors of abuse.
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, join PAVE and other ally organizations on campus on Monday, Oct. 7th from 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. at East Campus Mall as we aim to create a campus free from intimate partner violence. PAVE will be passing out pledges you can sign to show your support of survivors of intimate partner violence and of healthy relationships as well.
You can also get involved with PAVE on Tuesday, Oct. 22, as Dr. Josie Lehrer, creator of the Men’s Story Project, will join us for an interactive discussion exploring the ways for men to get involved in ending intimate partner violence.
If you think you or a friend might need help, you can call the Rape Crisis Center at 608-251-7273 or Domestic Abuse Intervention Services at 608-251-4445. University Health Services (608-265-5600) and the UW Police Department (608-264-2677) are also great resources for students looking for help.
What do you think is another good way to work together toward the end of domestic violence on University of Wisconsin- Madison’s campus? Have you ever known somebody affected by this type of domestic or sexual violence? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
