From Purple Thursday to the Clothesline Display, UWSP Raises Awareness 

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Center for Prevention and Health Promotion hosted events throughout October to raise awareness of domestic violence, support survivors and honor victims during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

The Center for Prevention and Health Promotion raises awareness of substance abuse, mental health, hazing and interpersonal violence.   

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a nationally recognized month that works to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding domestic violence. 

“It’s meant to clearly create awareness that domestic violence happens often,” said Stacey Duellman, the program director for the Center for Prevention and Health Promotion. “It’s around us because it is nationally known. On campus, we utilize that month and that message.”  

The center for prevention and health promotion, as well as the student organization Mental Health Advocates of UWSP, worked together to host events throughout October to raise awareness of domestic violence. 

On Oct. 6, they held a T-shirt design event. Every Thursday in October, they held “Purple Thursday” tabling in the Dreyfus University Center to show support for survivors of domestic violence and distribute resources. On Oct. 13, they held a Coffee & Culture event to learn more about healthy relationships and talk about interpersonal violence with UWSP students.  

To maintain engagement, they held events such as “Silent Walk” and Chalk the Walk bringing awareness and remembering victims of domestic violence.  

Throughout October, the center hosted a ‘Clothesline Display’ featuring T-shirts decorated by students with messages of support and awareness about domestic violence. 

“A majority of the population are good beings,” Duellman said, “There are still a lot of people who don’t do anything, and to try to bolster that and empower our students.” 

Abigail Holmes

News Reporter

aholm452@uwsp.edu