Monday, October 17, 2011

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is highlighting the need to recognize and prevent relationship violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month by providing training and events including the annual Clothesline Campaign and a fundraiser involving pink and purple hair extensions.

Throughout the month of October, UNC Wilmington's Collaboration for Assault Response and Education (CARE) office, focused on violence prevention and response, will educate the campus about how bystanders can help prevent domestic violence, instead of focusing on victim-based education.

According to Rebecca Caldwell, UNCW director of substance and violence prevention, UNCW's approach mirrors a national change in preventive education from a focus on potential victims and abusers to tactics designed to empowering everyone with techniques for recognizing and preventing dangerous situations before they turn violent. The first step in helping defuse a potentially dangerous situation is for people to decide to intervene. Many people will hesitate because of uncertainty and an unwillingness to initiate a confrontation.

Tips for Intervening in an Urgent Situation:

· Ask both parties individually if they are OK

· Remove one of the parties from the situation

· Talk to involved parties about the risk of a situation

· Use the "Distraction Method" - Have friends distract the aggressor, create another "crisis" to pull their attention from the conflict, try to draw one or both away by suggesting other activities like a late-night burger run, etc.

· Call 911

Media are invited to attend the below Domestic Violence Awareness Month events. Please call the below media contact before covering an event.

Hair Extensions Support Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer Awareness

Monday, 10/17

6-7:30 p.m. at Seahawk Crossing #3

Students will raise money for domestic violence and breast cancer prevention by getting pink and purple hair extensions for $5. All profits will be donated to local charities.

Clothesline Campaign

Wednesday, 10/19-10/26, displayed in front of Randall Library

A clothesline on campus will feature T-shirts decorated by victims of domestic violence and their friends and family with messages of support. The clothesline represents the communities of women who once shared stories while hanging laundry on backyard clotheslines.

Clothesline Campaign Make Your Own T-shirt Event

Monday, 10/24

6-8:30 p.m. at Azalea Coast Room Fisher University Union

7-9 p.m. at Seahawk Crossing #3

Students will make T-shirts for the Clothesline Campaign.

The U.S. Congress designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. For more events: www.uncw.edu/stuaff/care/presentations.html. For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month: http://dvam.vawnet.org/about/index.php .

Media Contact:

William Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.962.2654 or davisw@uncw.edu