Spotting the red flags

Vaqueros Stand Up Against Domestic Violence, hosted by the Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention, took place in the University Ballroom Oct. 4 in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

“OAVP works with students, staff, and faculty, and community partners to strive for a campus free from gender-based and interpersonal violence and to facilitate services for victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment and interpersonal violence,” according to the UTRGV website. 

On Sept. 29, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation making October 2023 National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

“During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, we stand with the tens of millions of people who have experienced intimate partner violence, and we thank the first responders, service providers, and community members who work to make sure that every American can live in safety, with dignity and respect,” according to the White House website.

Priscilla Palacios, associate director of Special Programs at the Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention, said the event brought awareness to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“We just want to let students, staff and faculty know that there is support for them here on campus, and in the community,” Palacios said. “And, to reach out to us and let them know that they are not alone. And, there’s people here to guide them, and help them out during their process.” 

Mayra Varela, assistant for the Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention, said they decorated the outside of the University Ballroom with red and green flags to signify the good and bad parts of a relationship. 

“We want to talk about healthy and unhealthy relationships,” Varela said. “And, how to spot the green flags, which would be the good signs in the relationships. And, the red flags represent the bad parts of a relationship and the signs to look for when there is an unhealthy part in a relationship.”

Jackie Medrano, community education director for the Family Crisis Center, Inc., a domestic abuse treatment center located in Harlingen, attended the event.

“Our main focus is assisting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault,” Medrano said. “… We help with sheltering if they have nowhere else to turn to and they need to get out [of] the abusive home or relationship. … We also assist with free counseling services. We provide legal assistance. … We also provide peer support, and want them to know that they are not in this alone, and there is an agency out there that is available to assist them.”

Organizations in attendance were the City of Edinburg Police Department, Friendship of Women, Inc., Family And Youth Success and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, among others.

Students can obtain several resources about domestic violence under the Office of Advocacy & Violence Prevention page on the UTRGV website.

“National Domestic Violence Hotline operates around the clock, seven days a week. Confidential and free of cost, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides life saving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. The hotline can be accessed by calling 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE),” according to the OAVP page.

Students can obtain services by visiting Marialice Shary Shivers Building Room 3.160 on the Edinburg campus and in North Office Building Room 106 on the Brownsville campus. All services provided by OAVP are free and confidential. 

The Office for Advocacy & Violence Prevention will host the seventh annual Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation Conference from 9 a.m to 5 p.m Oct. 27 and 28 in the University Ballroom on the Edinburg campus. 

“The CAVE Conference is a two-day advocacy-based symposium providing panel discussions, training opportunities, and information regarding power-based violence, sexual assault, and dating/domestic violence intervention and awareness,” according to the event flyer.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/CAVE_2022. For more information or special accommodations, contact 665-8287 or email oavp@utrgv.edu.