Domestic Violence Awareness Month

During October, the Sexual Assault and Violence Education (SAVE) Team will hold events focused on awareness about dating and domestic violence in college. Also, we'll let you know how YOU can be an empowered Zip and help show that at UA, we do not tolerate domestic violence.

We also want you to know that if you have been impacted by dating and/or domestic violence, there are resources on campus to support you.

• See our full list of events occurring throughout October.
• If you would like to get involved and help with any of our activities, please contact: uacasa14@gmail.com or kld67@uakron.edu.

The University of Akron is committed to promoting a safe and non-discriminatory environment, which includes prohibiting dating and domestic violence. If you or someone you know has been impacted by dating and/or domestic violence, you can make a referral to the Gender-Based Misconduct and Title IX team.

Several confidential resources: Available on and off campus in this extensive list.

Counseling and Testing Center
Free and confidential psychological services for current students.

• Call 330-972-7082 to schedule a virtual appointment.

Hope and Healing Resource Center: Battered Women’s Shelter
Trauma-informed advocates provide confidential counseling, advocacy, and support groups to students 24/7. They also provide emergency rehousing services for those who need to escape domestic violence.

• Call 330-374-1111 anytime

We want to provide you with the proper tools so you can support your friends, loved ones, and fellow Zips this month and every month to follow.

Learn & Identify:
Becoming familiar with the red flags, will help you to recognize and identify warning signs. The college power and control wheel breaks down some of the methods abusers will use to abuse their victims, particularly in a college setting.

How to respond:
It is also important to know how to respond if someone discloses to you. If a friend or someone you know confides in you that they are a survivor of dating and/or domestic violence, are currently in an abusive relationship, or have been accused of dating and/or domestic violence, there are several simple but effective things you can do to support your friend:

• Listen without judgment
• Provide referrals to campus and/or community resources
• Explore ways to stay safe, such as walking to class with them or having a safe word they can use with you if they are unsafe
• Self-Care

Continue your support:
You can support your friend even if you do not support their relationship. They may choose to stay in the relationship. Continue to be a support system and let them know that you are still there for them should they need you. Abusers often will try to isolate a victim so that even if they could safely leave the relationship, they would have no one to turn to for support.