Go Purple For October

UB students are trading in their blue and white to ‘go purple' for the month of October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

In honor of DVAM, UB's Wellness and Education Services will be sponsoring the seventh annual Walk With Me UB on Oct. 5 in the Student Union from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Student Survivor Advocacy Alliance partnered with The Men's Group, Counseling Services, and Crisis Services will be showing their support through participating in this traditional walk.

Walk With Me UB challenges those involved to wear a purple bandanas to recognize those affected by domestic and relationship violence on campus.

Domestic and relationship violence includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, according to Anna Sotelo-Peryea, organizer of the event.

The 2010 National College Health Assessment of UB reported that 8 percent of male and 10.2 percent of female students experienced emotional abuse from their partner.

Keegan Burke-Falotico, a Men's Group leader for Walk With Me and a senior social sciences interdisciplinary major, feels emotional abuse is wide spread on campus. Emotional abuse ranges from verbal assaults, to name-calling; anything that can break a person down.

"You sit in class and look around, there are more people who are survivors of this violence then there are people wearing glasses," said Burke-Falotico. "I personally can't sit idly by as my friends and colleagues are devastated by this violence. I want to stand up and support them."

That's exactly what Walk With Me's goal is: to support and unify the campus, especially for those personally affected by domestic and relationship abuse.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first observed in 1987 and was rooted from the first day of unity held in Oct. 1981 by The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Walk With Me takes place on campuses statewide in October, and was organized by NYS assemblywoman Naomi Rivera. The walk was created to encourage youth to become combatant against domestic violence. UB has been hosting this event since it's inception in 2005.

Teams participating in the event will spend Wednesday recruiting others to walk with them. Anyone in the UB community can also join as an individual by picking up their free purple bandana in the SU lobby. While there, participants have the option to put their paint-handprints on the SU windows to say "These Hands Don't Hurt." They can also take a pledge of nonviolence or decorate a square for a quilt of hope and healing.

Additionally, there will be a collection for the Haven House, a local domestic violence shelter, during the event that also continues through the month of October. Nonperishables, childcare items, and new clothing, can be donated in 114 Student Union on the North Campus, and the 3rd floor of Michael Hall on South Campus.

Dennis Black, vice president for university life and services, hopes that the event is not just one day of commitment, but a lifetime of thought and action.

"We are part of the world with all it's positives and negatives. As a result, we have those committed to addressing problem and those victimized within [the UB] campus," Black said.

Sotelo-Peryea hopes that seeing a campus of purple and so many people in the UB community showing their support will help victims feel more comfortable talking about abuse and seeking help if they need it.

"I hope that everyone walks away [from the event] knowing that whether they have been affected by this violence, or if God forbid in the future they themselves or someone they know are hurt physically, emotionally or sexually, that there are so many people on campus who support them and want to help them get the resources they need," said Burke-Falotico.

Email: news@ubspectrum.com