New Campus Alliance Against Violence Paints Town Purple

“Paint the town purple” was the theme of an educational activity conducted by Utah State University’s newly formed Campus Alliance Against Violence Oct. 13 to raise awareness about domestic violence on campus and in the community. After gathering at the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house to hear an educational presentation, about 40 students tied purple ribbons on trees outside the Taggart Student Center and in downtown Logan to commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

 

“We know we can’t prevent violence altogether, but each time we hang a purple ribbon we raise awareness in the community,” said Adrian Sample, social chair for Alpha Chi Omega.

 

Alpha Chi Omega, along with the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, has joined Utah State’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence (SAAVI) office to form the alliance.

 

“Our goal with the alliance is to make our campus a safer place,” said Rachel Hickman, SAAVI coordinator. “In time, we hope other individuals and campus organizations will join our efforts to prevent violence.”

 

Hickman said the collective efforts of the student-oriented alliance will be much more effectiver in educating the campus community than lone actions by the SAAVI office. “Peers listen to peers,” said Hickman. “The more people who are involved in our alliance, the more community ownership we’ll have in efforts to prevent violence and sexual assault at Utah State.”

 

Jared Westbrook, chaplain for Sigma Phi Epsilon, said his fraternity chose to join the alliance “to make a strong statement that violence is something we don’t tolerate.”

 

Westbrook said the Utah State chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon lost its charter several years ago following a sexual assault incident involving fraternity members.

 

“We’re working to repair our image,” he said. “By educating the campus we hope to raise public awareness and prevent future incidents.”

 

The alliance plans to hold a banquet in the spring to raise funds for future educational programs.

 

Created this past year, Utah State’s SAAVI office provides crisis intervention for victims of sexual assault and violence, along with campus-wide educational programs. The office presented the Red Zone Week Film Festival and accompanying activities in September to raise awareness of sexual assault prevention on campus. The ‘red zone’ refers to the period of August through November, which is the most vulnerable time of year for sexual assault against college women, said Hickman.