Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events Scheduled at UW

Educational events are scheduled at the University of Wyoming this month to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity to learn, engage and unite in preventing dating and domestic violence and to support survivors. As part of its commitment to create a safe and inclusive community, the Sexual Misconduct Response Team invites the UW campus community to explore events and resources designed to raise awareness and to promote healthy relationships and help prevent sexual and interpersonal violence.

The Sexual Misconduct Response Team believes that: healthy relationships respect boundaries; violence is not tolerated, and everyone is expected to do their part in preventing it; and most people at UW want to intervene when noticing sexual and interpersonal violence, according to the 2023 Campus Climate Survey.

Among events scheduled at UW are:

-- Thursday, Oct. 19, noon, Wyoming Union Family Room. The Violence Prevention Office peer educators and SAFE Project will lead a “Lunch and Learn” session. Attendees will learn about the warning signs; differences between healthy, unhealthy and abusive behaviors; and how to help someone in an abusive relationship. The session is open to UW students and employees, and lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

-- Wednesday, Oct. 25: The UW community is urged to consider providing a gift to the UW Student Survivor Emergency Fund as part of UW Giving Day. Funding in the past has been provided for Ring video doorbells, medication, car covers and other emergency costs. The campaign link will be live at noon Oct. 25.

-- Thursday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Information tables in the Wyoming Union for Green Dot Day of Action. The campus community is asked to show support by wearing Green Dot-branded items, such as shirts, hats, buttons and stickers. Interactive opportunities to engage in conversation on social media, to learn about the three D’s -- distract, delegate and direct -- and other prevention activities will be available at the information tables.

-- Thursday, Oct. 26, and Thursday, Nov. 2: UW employees can sign up for a Green Dot training session as part of Green Dot Day of Action. UW students also can register for the Nov. 2 Green Dot training.

Other resources for the UW community are available through:

-- SAFE Project, a dedicated source of confidential support services for both UW students and employees. The 24/7 hotline at (307) 745-3556 is accessible whenever assistance is needed.

-- The UW Dean of Students Office responds to reports of sexual and interpersonal violence involving students and can offer supportive measures and information about rights and options.

-- The UW Equal Opportunity Report and Response office responds to reports involving employees and coordinates investigations.

-- Attend a training or learn more about UW’s Green Dot, UW’s bystander intervention program.

Other resources available are:

-- Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Visit the website at www.wyomingdvsa.org/.

-- National Domestic Violence Hotline. Visit the website at www.thehotline.org/ or call 1-800-799-7233.

For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, email the UW Dean of Students Office at dos@uwyo.edu.