Please join Voices Against Violence (VAV) in raising awareness and preventing relationship violence this October.  Voices Against Violence (VAV), a program of the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), part of the Division of Student Affairs at UT, will host a series of events throughout the month of October for Relationship Violence Awareness Month (RVAM).  VAV has teamed with two student organizations, Out Against Abuse and Breaking the Silence, to better engage the campus community on the issue of relationship violence.

In Texas, 75% of people age 16-24 reported either knowing someone or having personally experienced relationship violence.

More than one in three women and one in four men in the US are or will be survivors of violence, including rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner.

Relationship Violence Awareness Month features a full month of events, including:
* “The Red Flag Project,” an art installation at the Gregory Gym Concourse
* Theatre for Dialogue performances
* “Stand Up for Safe Families Paddle Parade” on Lady Bird Lake
* Educational Seminar by the founder of the national non-profit “Out Against Abuse”
* Rally for Healthy Relationships and Breaking the Silence Speak Out

See this poster for more details:  http://tinyurl.com/RVAM2012

These events have the potential for some students to recognize unhealthy behavior in their own or their friends’ relationships. Voices Against Violence offers individual and group counseling as well as advocacy for students concerned about safety in their relationship.  Resources for how to help a friend are available online at

www.cmhc.utexas.edu/dv_supportingafriend

For more information visit Voices Against Violence (http://www.cmhc.utexas.edu/vav), see the Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/events/382918848443993/) or follow us on Twitter using the hashtag #outagainstabuse.

Thank you for joining us in the movement to build a safer UT campus.

Sincerely,
Voices Against Violence (VAV) Staff
voicesagainstviolence@austin.utexas.edu
Counseling and Mental Health Center
Division of Student Affairs
UT Austin

For more information:
Jane Bost, jbost@austin.utexas.edu
(512) 471-3515
Counseling and Mental Health Center, Associate Director

Submitted by Madeline Chauvin