October is Relationship Violence Prevention Month

Dear UT Community,

October is Relationship Violence Prevention Month (RVPM), an annual national campaign dedicated to raising awareness about domestic and dating violence and educating our respective communities about interpersonal violence (including domestic and dating violence).

The University of Texas at Austin is committed to providing an educational and working environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from sexual assault, interpersonal violence (including domestic and dating violence), stalking, and sexual harassment (including harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or pregnancy status).

The Title IX Office and Voices Against Violence (VAV), a program in the Longhorn Wellness Center, invite members of the UT Austin community to participate and engage in one or more of the following RVPM events and activities:

• Monday, October 2 – First day of RVPM:  Access the zoom backgrounds for RVPM 2023 online. To learn more about other RVPM events, visit the Title IX website.
• Wednesdays, October 4 and 11, and Thursdays, October 19 and 26, from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Come visit the Title IX Office and partnering student organizations to learn about services, resources, and education and training opportunities available to the campus community.
  
  
• Thursday, October 19 – “Go Purple Day”: This day was established to encourage wearing purple as a symbol of solidarity with survivors of domestic and dating violence. Purple is the color of domestic violence awareness.
• Thursday, October 26, 6-9 p.m. – Breaking the Silence: This annual event provides an opportunity to connect with campus resources, listen to speakers, engage with our campus community partners, and support survivors of relationship violence. The event takes place in the Welch Hall Courtyard.

Follow us on Instagram @utaustintix for more information about RVPM events and programs!

This is also a good time to learn how to respond in a supportive way to someone who discloses they are a survivor of interpersonal violence (including domestic and dating violence), and increase your knowledge of the support and resources UT offers to all affected parties.

The Title IX Office offers year-round workshops including developing healthy workplace and personal boundaries, understanding supportive measures, or addressing alleged acts of retaliation in the workplace. You can request a workshop for your organization, college, school, or unit.

Finally, if you witness or become aware of a Title IX matter, respond compassionately and empathetically, and, if you are an employee of UT, report all that you know to the Title IX Office online at titleix.utexas.edu, via email at titleix@austin.utexas.edu or by calling 512-471-0419. This not only keeps you in compliance with the law, but more importantly enables the University, through our knowledgeable case managers, to reach out and offer support and resources to those affected.

Best,

Adriana Alicea-Rodriguez

Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator