In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the University of Tennessee at Martin Office of Access, Compliance and Title IX has arranged a variety of prevention and education events and initiatives that will take place throughout the month of October.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness, increase prevention, educate the public and support those who have experienced domestic violence. Dominique Ross is UT Martin’s Title IX coordinator and director the Office of Access, Compliance and Title IX.
“We’re trying to eliminate any barrier between people coming to us for assistance,” she said. “If you find yourself in that situation, you can come to us for help. We just want to make sure that you’re supported, and you get the help you need.”
The Office of Access, Compliance and Title IX has worked in collaboration with other campus resources to develop a lineup of events.
• Thursday, Oct. 23, is Purple Thursday. Anyone wanting to participate is encouraged to wear purple in support of domestic violence awareness.
• Saturday, Oct. 25, is the Domestic Violence Awareness Color Run 5K, held at 8 a.m. and beginning in the UT Martin quad. This event is open to any students or community members who wish to walk or run. Participants will need to register at runway.utm.edu and search “Domestic Violence Awareness Color Run 5K.”
The following events are organized for UT Martin students, faculty and staff.
• Monday, Oct. 13, is the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Walk with Chancellor Yancy Freeman, organized in collaboration with the UT Martin Healthy Hawks. This event will begin at noon at the Friends statue on the quad near the Paul Meek Library. During this event, Weakley County Mayor Dale Hutcherson will sign a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Wednesday, Oct. 15, is “Speak Your Peace: Unsilenced” Poetry Night, held at 6 p.m. in the Duncan Ballroom in the Boling University Center. This event aims to create a calming and supportive environment for personal expression. Students are encouraged to get involved, share their own spoken word art and enjoy hearing from featured artist Adan Beane.
For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, contact the Office of Access, Compliance and Title IX at 731-881-3505 or email Ross directly at titleix@utm.edu.
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: Students taking part in last year’s Domestic Violence Awareness Walk pause to read messages on T-shirts that were part of The Clothesline Project, a visual display of violence statistics, survivors’ stories and messages to inspire those who have experienced domestic violence.
