You can make a difference by taking the Purple Heart Pledge

Inspirational posters hang outside of the Crisis Intervention office to encourage individuals yo speak out against domestic abuse. Photo by Rachel Lynch

By Rachel Lynch

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), which stemmed from the “Day of Unity” in 1981. Since this time advocates and people across the nation use this time to educate and promote Domestic Violence Awareness in a variety of ways.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.

One in three women and one in foue men have been victims of [some form of] physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence said only 34 percent of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.

Domestic Violence has become a term people shy away from and are afraid to talk about. The above are just a few shocking statistics about the violent act that happens behind the closed doors of our society. Breaking the silence about it and helping inform communities on what it is and how they can help is exactly what advocates are pushing for.

One way Crisis Intervention Service will be doing this on the Waldorf campus is by hosting a Purple Heart Pledge. The Purple Heart Pledge will be on October 14 from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Atrium.

During The Purple Heart Pledge Campaign students will be asked to write something that would relate to the theme “love shouldn’t hurt,” a slogan often used in association with domestic violence, on a purple heart. The hearts will then be hung on the wall of the Atrium to create a wall of awareness.

“We will have some door-prizes and 91.9 KZOW will be there,” said Nicole Hamilton of Crisis Intervention Service. “It will be a lot of fun and a great way for students to get educated.”

Another way organizations help bring awareness to domestic violence is to educate the community on what domestic violence is. Nicole Hamilton, Domestic Violence Advocate for Kossuth and Winnebago County, who works in the Waldorf college office said in reference to why it is important to have Domestic Violence Awareness activities and have a Crisis Intervention Service office on campus was, “for them to know what resources are available to them and to understand what domestic violence is.”

“Dating violence and stalking does happen on campus and students need to understand what a healthy relationship is,” Hamilton said.

Andrea and Nicole are in the Crisis Intervention office located at Salveson 210 and offer education, information, and advocate services related to sexual assault and domestic violence to anyone in need.