I am not just covering the event DU planned for National Wear Purple Day in this article. My aim is to first encourage everyone to learn more about domestic violence and how to address it, and second, to remind every survivor of how strong they were in facing and overcoming it.
I begin with the quote that has guided my life, which I once read on a hospital wall: “You pass through once, make it count” by Molly Blank.
I truly believe that no one should be a victim of violence, especially domestic violence. Sometimes, it is hard to recognize if what we’re going through qualifies as domestic violence, but it’s essential to ask questions, seek help, and get support from the right people.
After all, we only live once, and we don’t want to waste our time, self-worth and life on people who violate or devalue us. Some individuals are skilled at convincing us that we caused their violent behavior. But we must always remember: no matter what, nothing justifies violence.
If you are in a relationship where you feel you are experiencing any form of domestic violence — whether it’s physical, emotional, sexual, or otherwise- remember that you are loved, you are worthy, and deserve support. Life is hard enough, and we need people to protect and uplift us.
This is your reminder that life is too short to wait for a violent partner to change. You deserve a relationship that is healthy, happy and supportive. Only you can decide to change your life, let the right people in, and summon the courage to say enough to domestic violence. It could save you from years of suffering. DU offers many resources, offices and caring individuals ready to help- you don’t have to go through it alone.
To all domestic violence survivors, I want to express my admiration and pride. It’s never easy to endure an unhealthy relationship, and it’s even harder to make the decision to walk away. You should be incredibly proud of yourself.
On Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Driscoll Bridge, DU hosted an event for National Wear Purple Day. Offices including Thrive, CAPE, Title IX and DU Dining participated to raise awareness about domestic violence.
At the Title IX table, there were many stress-reducing fidgets that people could take with them like coloring supplies, and some bubbles to bring people some joy and they made sure to give students some information about their office.
When asked about why the Title IX office was part of that event, the advisor explained that they wanted to ensure the community feels supported, especially when it comes to interpersonal violence. They also encourage people to seek help without hesitation, as the office’s main goal is to ensure everyone at DU feels safe and supported.
“The most important thing for us [is to connect] the impacted party who has potentially been harmed and [make sure] that they have what they need to be able to continue their education and put into place supportive measures to help them do that,” Stacy Galbo, Title IX office representative said.
Thrive’s table featured purple temporary tattoos, nail polish and other things to engage the community and show support for domestic violence survivors. One of their activities, “Building a Community Recipe for a Healthy Relationship” encouraged students to reflect on what ingredients they value in a relationship (green flags) and which ones (red flags) they would leave out.
From Thrive’s point of view, this event is vital for the DU community because recognizing domestic violence is the first step to addressing it. Thrive’s goal is to raise awareness and help students understand the signs of dating violence.
DU Dining (Sodexo) also found a special way to raise awareness with their delicious purple smoothies. These weren’t just a treat; they served as a reminder to think about domestic violence, our relationships and those we love who might be suffering.
Attending events like these reminds us that we are loved, we matter and we must prioritize ourselves.
If you need support, here are a few links to some resources at DU that you can use: Thrive at DU, Title IX and CAPE.
