Red Flag Campaign at UMW Raises Awareness of Dating Violence
The Red Flag Campaign, an effort to bring an awareness of dating violence to college campuses, was held at the University of Mary Washington from Monday, Oct. 21 through Tuesday, Oct.29. The student-run campaign, which helps students to recognize “red flags” associated with dating violence and encourages them to say something if they see those signs, has been held at UMW for the past seven years.
The campaign’s central feature is a poster series depicting situations in which students should say something if they see a “red flag” in a relationship of a friend, acquaintance, neighbor or even in their own relationships. Students placed the posters and red flags throughout the Fredericksburg campus. Empowerhouse, the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, and the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center took part in the campaign to make students aware of the services they provide. The UMW chapter of Student Anti-Violence Educators, or SAVE, coordinates the campaign in conjunction with UMW’s Office of Judicial Affairs and the Wellness Team, as part of the Healthy Campus 2020 initiative.
“Relationship violence can be very damaging to someone physically and emotionally,” said senior Kayla Zahrn, president of SAVE. “The goal of the campaign is to show these people that they are supported and also to help them find the resources they need if they need help getting out of a violent relationship.”
The Red Flag Campaign is held at college campuses across the country. UMW has participated since the beginning of the campaign and has been chosen to be a partner school for the past several years because of its strong work on the campaign.
Red Flag Campaign Raises Awareness of Dating Violence
The Red Flag Campaign, an effort to bring an awareness of dating violence to college campuses, began at the University of Mary Washington’s Fredericksburg campus on Monday, Oct. 8 and will continue through Friday, Oct.12. The student-run campaign, which encourages students to “say something” if they see signs of dating violence, has been held at UMW for the past six years.
The campaign’s central feature is a poster series depicting situations in which students should say something if they see a “red flag” in a relationship of a friend, acquaintance, neighbor or even in their own relationships. Students will place the posters and red flags throughout the campus. The university’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center, the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault and Empowerhouse will have tables on campus throughout the week to make students aware of the services they provide. The UMW chapter of Student Anti-Violence Educators or SAVE, coordinates the campaign in conjunction with UMW’s Office of Judicial Affairs.
“The goal of the week is to ensure students know that they have the ability and the responsibility to say something if they see signs of dating violence in their relationships or in the relationships of others,” said senior Meagan Holbrook, president of SAVE. “To understand that you have that capacity is a powerful thing.”
The Red Flag Campaign is held at college campuses across the country. UMW has participated since the beginning of the campaign and has been chosen to be a partner school for the past several years because of its strong work on the campaign.