Dozens of students Thursday took a moment to pin purple ribbons on a larger cardboard ribbon and on their clothes and backpacks as part of an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence.
The 5-foot-tall ribbon, constructed by members of the ASUO Women’s Center to mark October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, was nearly half-full after two hours.
The Women’s Center initiated the Purple Ribbon Campaign for the first time this year, providing a way for people on campus to show that they are standing in opposition to domestic abuse.
“College students are a particularly important demographic to reach out to because we are the next generation of husbands, wives, leaders and community representatives,” said Tanja JensonWomen’s Center domestic violence awareness advocate.
Jenson said that men need to understand that domestic abuse affects them equally even though more victims are female because their mothers, sisters and other loved ones may have been abused.
“One in five women will see domestic violence in her lifetime,” Jenson said. “That’s a statistic that goes across the board.”
University junior Jesse Buss said he was surprised when Jenson informed him that 15 percent of all relationships include physical abuse.
“I’ll definitely stand up for (the effort),” Buss said as he pinned himself.
The Women’s Center partnered with Womenspace, a Eugene non-profit organization dedicated to reducing domestic abuse through female empowerment, to organize a month-long campus toiletry drive.
Starting today, people can donate hygienic items, such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and feminine products. The University Bookstore, the Student Recreation Center and several University department offices are among 12 purple donation bin locations.
Womenspace Outreach Director Margo Schaefer said the toiletry drive is particularly important because “people often leave with literally the clothes on their back and not even shoes on their feet” when fleeing abusive relationships.
Womenspace houses anywhere from 300 to 400 women and children each year, she said.
The organization and the Women’s Center have planned two nights when
community members can gather at 15 different Lane County sites for “Taking a Stand” against domestic violence rallies.
Both Schaefer and Jenson said actively demonstrating peace, safety and non-violence as core community values explains to abusers that their behavior should not be commonplace in relationships.
Schaefer said she imagines battered families driving in their cars and reading the campaign’s motto, “Every home is a safe home.”
The Women’s Center will staff its purple ribbon booth each Thursday this month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the EMU.
“It’s time we stood up and showed survivors that there’s hope for them,” Jenson said.
Last year, some students wore similar purple ribbons during October to mark the YWCA’s annual Week Without Violence Purple Hands Pledge as part of National Week Without Violence, which runs Oct. 14 through Oct. 20 this year.
Contact the crime, health and safety reporter at lfunston@daily
emerald.com