Trinity’s new It’s On Us program is hosting its first Purple Week. Purple Thursday is Oct. 19, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During this time local and national organizations wear purple, the signifying color of domestic violence. Purple Week is Trinity’s chapter of It’s On Us’ expansion of outreach and includes a week of coordinated educational events to bring awareness to intimate partner violence
Each day of Purple Week, which runs from Oct. 16-Oct. 20, has an event to engage students with curricula about intimate partner violence. On Monday, students can pledge to end and prevent sexual violence on campus by putting a purple handprint on a banner to display on campus. Tuesday and Wednesday will include educational pop-ups with information about Title IX and other campus resources — paletas included. Thursday, Oct. 19 is Purple Thursday — t-shirts passed out at earlier events in the week are encouraged to be worn. On Friday, It’s On Us and SGA are hosting a celebration of the educational process with free food.
Starting this semester, Wellness Services pushed forward It’s On Us to expand the reach of the department. Trinity’s chapter of It’s On Us, which falls under the greater national organization, is similar to TU Active Minds, which Wellness Services started last year. Because It’s On Us is new to campus, the organization is still growing its outreach and programming. It’s On Us is working to fill a gap in the education Trinity students receive about sexual violence. Marlaina Widmann, student wellness coordinator, is the advisor to the two organizations on campus. Widmann described Purple Week as being significant through strengthing the learning outcomes that go into sexual violence prevention on campus.
“Purple week is supporting … specifically understanding what gender-based violence is and knowing how to stop that,” Widmann said.
Lara Lashus, sophomore sociology major, stated that Purple Week and other educational events were a step toward a more satisfactory guidance of sexual violence on campus.
“I know that there are resources … but I don’t think I have necessarily received a lot of information on that, and, I think that should be improved,” Lashus said. Though Lashus acknowledged that she has received education on sexual violence on campus in the past, she did not feel it was enough. Lashus is passionate about education on and awareness of sexual violence and looks forward to seeing an increase in campus conversation and training.
“As young adults entering new relationships — romantic relationships — for the first time, we should know what to watch for,” Lashus said. “We should know how to have safe and healthy relationships.”
Anusha Sharma, junior neuroscience and psychology double-major, serves as the president of It’s On Us. She sees the organization as an important move towards expanding the educational outreach of Wellness Services on campus.
“I think a lot of students … didn’t know that there are resources available … and don’t know who the confidential resources and mandatory reporters are,” Sharma said.
Specifically, Sharma stated the lack of educational processes and resources done through the Title IX Office was creating a gap that Wellness Services wanted to fill. Because Title IX is largely focused on the legalities and processes of addressing experienced sexual violence, there is not as much focus on prevention and education.
It’s On Us hosted the End the Red Zone event earlier this semester, working to spread awareness about the high rates of sexual violence between the first week of the academic semester and Thanksgiving break. As for the scope of what It’s On Us will do in the future, it is still unclear. Sharma stated fundraising and interaction with the San Antonio community is a goal of the Trinity Chapter. Sharma identified that these connections would nurture a synergy between the Trinity students and San Antonio organizations while they are on and off campus.
“We want to foster an environment overall so even when students graduate … there is still a supportive community outside of just this,” Sharma said.
While every student is required to complete new student wellness, which includes a sexual violence module within the larger curriculum, adding It’s On Us as a campus organization is a testament to the work of Wellness Services to create a continued and holistic educational experience for students in regards to sexual violence. Wellness Services wants to grow the conversations on campus that are not happening as well as increase student involvement and interest.
“We want it to come from the students: ‘I want to learn about this,’ ‘I want to make a difference,’” said Sharma.
If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, you can contact a local shelter, call 911, or reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. Confidential on-campus resources: Student Health Services ([email protected]), Athletic Trainers ([email protected]), Student Counseling Services ([email protected]), and Chapel and Spiritual Life ([email protected]).
