WVU’s Peer Advocates in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host events to increase awareness and encourage students, faculty and staff to learn more about how to prevent dating violence, an issue that affects millions of teens in the U.S. each year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such violence can be physical, sexual, psychological or involve stalking, and it can happen in person or electronically.
“One in three teens finds themselves in an abusive relationship,” said Akeya Carter-Bozman, prevention specialist in the division’s Office of Equity Assurance. “Teens, including college students, may have developed the wrong idea of how healthy relationships should work, basing them on what they have seen in movies, television or on social media.”
Carter-Bozman says college students are still learning about the patience, communication and trust required to make a relationship healthy and successful. She also points out that actions and behaviors within a romantic relationship can have “real-world” consequences beyond broken relationships; there can be civil and criminal consequences for abusers and victims can experience depression or anxiety.
The WVU community is invited to join the following events:
Carter-Bozman will lead the Real Talk Day: Ask the Expert Zoom session Sunday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. Register for the Zoom session.
“One Love” discussion about healthy and unhealthy relationships and how to identify and avoid abuse Wednesday, Feb 10, 3-4:30 p.m. Register for the One Love discussion.
Observe the Wear Orange Day social media challenge by wearing orange to promote respect and healthy relationships and posting with the hashtags #GoOrange and #Orange4Love Thursday, Feb 11.
Chalk a sidewalk with messages about what love means to them and sharing photos with the hashtag #ChalkAboutLove Tuesday, Feb 16.
“By raising awareness and teaching our campus healthy relationship skills, we can all make a difference,” Carter-Bozman said. “I invite people to follow our Peer Advocates on Instagram for additional information.”