Relationship Violence Awareness Month
October is Relationship Violence Awareness Month
Every October, Sexual Violence Response recognizes issues of violence in intimate relationships and the impact they have on all of us, issues with particular urgency after three years of unprecedented personal, societal, and economic challenges on a global scale.
We ask you join us in observing Relationship Violence Awareness Month (RVAM) as we remember, honor, and celebrate survivors, advocates, and activists through programming and events that affirm that relationship violence has no place in the Columbia University community.
No matter who we are, we have the power to make a change.
From small steps to big leaps and everything in between, whoever you are or wherever you are from, you CAN help build a compassionate and accountable community where relationship violence can end.
Events
Navigating Consent: The Impact of Power and Coercion
When:
Monday, October 10
5:30 - 6:30 PM (ET)
Where:
The James Room, located on the 4th floor of Barnard Hall
Join staff from Sexual Violence Response (SVR) and Being Barnard for a conversation that explores how to navigate consent through power dynamics and the impact that coercive behavior has on consent. This conversation will focus on consent in the context of interpersonal relationships. Participants will gain insight into the importance of consent in these relationships and the role that power influences consent. This event will be a group discussion facilitated by staff, so come ready to share your thoughts and learn from others!
Students of all Columbia schools are welcome to attend.
Wear Purple on #PurpleThursday
When:
Thursday, October 20
All day
Where:
Wherever you are
Thursday, October 20 is Purple Thursday, where everyone is invited to wear purple to raise awareness of the impact of relationship violence and to support survivors. Join SVR and the rest of the community in wearing purple on this day and demonstrate our collective commitment to building a compassionate and accountable community free of violence.
The entire Columbia community is encouraged to participate.
Surviving and Thriving When Dating Goes Digital
When:
Tuesday, October 25
6:00 - 7:30 PM (ET)
Where:
Zoom: Register in advance for this Webinar
Relationships and dating have gone digital - there's no escaping it. One big challenge is that people tend to say and do things online that they would never say or do to your face. Some of these challenges are familiar (unsolicited photos) and others sound dystopian (Stalkerware or Deepfakes). We'll break down how anyone can survive and thrive in the modern dating landscape - and ensure the things we value in a relationship like boundaries, consent, and safety aren't minimized online.
About Adam Dodge, ENDTAB
Adam is an internationally recognized digital safety expert who believes you do not have to be a tech expert to protect yourself or others in the digital age. He advises the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse, sits on the World Economic Forum's Digital Justice Advisory Committee and has worked with technology companies like Bumble to improve the safety and wellbeing of people online. Adam's work and expertise has been featured on CBS and in Vogue, MIT Technology Review, the Washington Post, SELF Magazine, GQ, VICE and others.
The Intersection of Reproductive Justice and Gender-Based Violence: A Discussion on the Impact of Violence on the Reproductive Health of Black Women
When:
Wednesday, November 9
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)
Where:
Hammer 312
Join us for a lunch and learn event on the impact of relationship violence and reproductive health among Black women and girls, featuring award-winning, nationally recognized researcher, and educator, Dr. Alleyne-Green. Participants will engage in conversations that will deepen their understanding of the connections between, gender-based violence, healthcare disparities, and other racial injustices that impact the reproductive health of Black women.
The event is co-sponsored by SVR and Sexual Health Action Group (SHAG) and The Black and Latinx Caucus. Open to the entire CUIMC community.
Zoom Backgrounds
Download an RVAM Zoom Background: Right-click on the image, click "Save Image As...", and add to Zoom!
About Sexual Violence Response (SVR)
SVR aims to end gender and power-based violence through collective community action. SVR creates social change by building a compassionate and accountable community, with a commitment to increasing resources and support for survivors and co-survivors of violence. Read more about the resources SVR offers students.