The Outreach Committee of the Wayne State University President's Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) will host a series of events and exhibits throughout the month of October in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The organization hopes to end the silence about domestic violence by drawing attention to the epidemic, which affects individuals of all ages, races and ethnicities, economic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and nationalities.
"The commission hosts a number of events throughout the year to help educate and empower the entire campus community about domestic violence and sexual assault," said Robin Collins, chair of COSW's outreach committee. "Our focus is on domestic violence and sexual assault on campus and in the broader community culture. Events coordinated by the outreach committee assist the university with compliance of Title IX."
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. According to a special report released by the U.S. Department of Justice in April, intimate partner violence is most common among women between the ages of 18 and 24.
"The catalyst for the events that occur during Domestic Violence Awareness Month on WSU's campus is COSW's mission to bring awareness and instigate change regarding women's issues," said Kim Morgan, chair of COSW. "Due to the efforts of the COSW's outreach committee, Wayne State students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to step up and stand up against domestic violence and sexual assault."
COSW's outreach committee encourages you to:
- Visit the Clothesline Project, a visual display bearing witness to violence against women. The project will be featured in the David Adamany Undergraduate Library throughout the month of October in commemoration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During the last several years, more than 200 students, faculty and staff members have created T-shirts to honor survivors and remember victims.
- Look for the international Silent Witness Project, a visual representation of victims of domestic violence that will be displayed on WSU's campus from Oct. 1 to 31. Individual, life-sized red silhouettes representing men, women and children murdered in acts of domestic violence in the state of Michigan will be on display at various locations around campus. The silhouettes include breastplate shields sharing victims' names and stories. The goals of the Silent Witness Project include remembering and honoring those who lost their lives in domestic violence; awareness, advocacy and connecting people with successful programs to help end the violence; and reporting, demonstrating the effectiveness of intervention programs through data collection and presentation.
- Visit the NO MORE Photo Booth between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in the Gullen Mall flag court outside the Undergraduate Library. Participants can take photos with the NO MORE sign, view the entire Silent Witness Project, and learn what they can do to support victims and efforts to end domestic violence and sexual assault. This event, which will take place near the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, serves to remind everyone to continue the fight to end domestic violence and sexual assault by joining the NO MORE campaign.
For more information about COSW's Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities, contact Robin Collins at 313-577-4935 or robin.collins@wayne.edu or Sara Byczek at 313- 577-8654 or sara.byczek@wayne.edu.
About the Wayne State University President's Commission on the Status of Women
The Wayne State University President's Commission on the Status of Women strives to increase communication about opportunities and events for women and to raise awareness of women's needs and issues through programming, advocacy, and dissemination of information. To learn more about COSW, please visit cosw.wayne.edu.