October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and several departments on and off campus have teamed up to raise awareness that Auburn is not immune to domestic violence issues.
Susan McCallister, associate director of public safety education and information, said one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in her life.
"It's not just spouse-on-spouse or intimate relations," she said. "Domestic violence includes any violence that occurs within the home.
"Our motto this month is 'Zero Tolerance,' and that should be how everyone sees it."
But this isn't just an issue for women.
Chris Locke, professor in social work, said men need to step up and learn the truth about domestic violence.
"This isn't just for women to yell about," he said.
Arielle Auston, senior in biomedical sciences, agreed that men need to hear about this too.
"Since it's mainly female victims, men should be the ones who get the message the most," she said. "They're the ones that need to see how big a deal this is."
To raise awareness about the nationally recognized month, the departments held a candlelight vigil on Cater Lawn last week.
Purple cardboard stand-ups represented people who were murdered in Alabama in 2009 because of domestic violence.
These cut-outs can now be found all over campus, acting as silent reminders of these tragedies.
"We thought it was important to keep them up to show that this is a month-long thing, not just a couple of events," Locke said. "We need to talk about it more on campus."
The displays have caught the eyes and attention of several Auburn students.
"I think it's great that they have these attention-getting cut-outs up everywhere," Auston said. "I took some time to read some of the stories they have pinned on them, and they were heartbreaking. It's a good way to tell Auburn to wake up."
Other eye-catching methods include advertisements on Tiger Transit buses and a stadium video played during October home games.
Locke said he doesn't think the month-long awareness campaign is enough.
"I really think it should be a yearlong thing," he said. "It's too important for everyone to think about for one month and then forget about it the next."
One group that is a part of the awareness month is Safe Harbor, a part of Student Counseling Services that is committed to reducing sexual assault and violence in the student body.
McCallister said she is a big supporter of Safe Harbor.
She said students should use it as a resource if they feel they've been threatened in any way.
"They provide services for students to help them connect with whatever resources they need," she said.
The number for Safe Harbor is 334-844-SAFE.
For more information, visit www.auburn.edu/zerotolerance.
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