In an effort to support Step In Stand up, Texas A&M’s university-wide mission of eliminating sexual violence on campus, leading dating violence researcher Dr. Kelly Wilson will lead two discussions on the importance of dating violence prevention Monday, Feb. 13.
The “Step In Stand Up Against Dating Violence with Dr. Kelly Wilson” discussion hosted by the Sexual Assault Survivor Services Committee in conjunction with the Division of Student Affairs will be delivered to two different audiences, but will carry a similar message.
The first discussion at 1:30 p.m. in Rudder Tower room 601 is open to faculty and staff and will have a focus on how they can create a campus environment that supports survivors and doesn’t allow dating violence to be tolerated. The second at 8:30 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center room 2406 is open to students and will explain how to help a peer and spread awareness of the issue.
Wilson, associate professor of health education in Texas A&M’s Department of Health and Kinesiology, will discuss three aspects of dating violence prevention: how to recognize an abusive dating relationship, bystander intervention tactics and how to talk to someone who is trapped in an abusive relationship.
The discussions come at a time when they needed most, according to Ryan Jackson, assistant coordinator in the office of Consensual Language, Education, Awareness & Relationships (CLEAR).
“Dating violence is one of the most prevalent forms of sexual violence amongst college students,” Jackson said. “Recent studies estimate that almost 1 in 3 female college students will be in an abusive dating relationship. Dating violence encompasses a lot of different behaviors, ranging from verbal and physical abuse all the way up to homicide.”
Texas A&M University launched the Step In Stand Up campaign in 2015 with the mission of stepping in to prevent incidents of sexual violence and standing up for survivors. A web-based portal with information and resources is available to students, faculty and staff at stepinstandup.tamu.edu.
The Step In Stand Up campaign was selected as the NASPA Excellence Awards’ 2016-2017 Bronze Award Winner for the Violence Education and Prevention, Crisis Management, Campus Security, and related category.
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Contact: Ryan Jackson, Assistant Coordinator
CLEAR: Consensual Language, Education, Awareness, & Relationships | Division of Student Affairs | Texas A&M University
1257 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-1257
ph: 979.845.6241 | ryan_jackson@studentlife.tamu.edu| clear.tamu.edu
