October was designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1981 when the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence sought a formal time devoted to unifying and connecting advocates of battered people across the United States.
In honor of this month, Hamilton’s Title IX Office invited Campus Advocates from the Mohawk Valley Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) to campus this past week.
Domestic violence can take the form of physical, emotional, or mental abuse. The YWCA of the Mohawk Valley (YWCAMV) strives to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence while simultaneously working to empower women and eliminate racism at Hamilton College and in Oneida County.
The YWCA offers crisis and residential services to victims, including support groups, individual counseling sessions, and anonymous hotlines. Additionally, it offers informational programs to help the community become more aware of the prevalence of domestic violence.
The organization’s Campus Advocacy branch provides preventation education, offering programs that inform and support students and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the college setting.
“The Campus Advocates program at the YWCAMV provides education and support services to college and university community members in Oneida and Herkimer counties,” said Director of Community Standards Catherine Berryman.
According to the Mohawk Valley’s YWCA website, Campus Advocates work directly with administrations of local colleges and universities to provide the College community with access to their support network. Berryman said that because of their official training, students can reach out to Campus Advocates for guidance through the Title IX and Enough is Enough legislature and procedures if they choose to do so.
“[The Campus Advocates] are off-campus resources for our students and employees,” said Berryman. “They also coordinate regular meetings for Title IX Coordinators at area colleges and representatives from community service organizations to discuss relevant topics and developments.”
Hamilton College’s Campus Advocates, Maria Fruscello and Chris Theophile, represented the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley on campus this past week. They talked with students about the difficult issues surrounding domestic violence.
In addition to their talks with students, Fruscello and Theophile worked with the Hamilton community and the Title IX office on campus to fundraise by selling purple lollipops to support of survivors. Purple is the official color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“The Campus Advocates were on campus on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Sadove from 2 to 4 PM and Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Health Center from 9:30 AM to 1 PM selling lollipops,” said Assistant Director of Community Standards Dayna Campell.
The money earned from sales of the purple pops go towards funding the YWCA’s education and Campus Advocacy programs to render more visible the stories and struggles of survivors of domestic violence and secxual assault.
Students interested in the available resources can talk with Berryman and Campbell, go to YWCAMV’s website, or contact them via email or phone. For confidential, twenty-four hour support, students can use the Oneida County Domestic Violence Hotline at 315–797–7740.
