Title IX coordinator, Lisa Evaneski, presented a workshop on escalation in dating violence to students in Mackin Complex on Monday to foster active prevention.
Attendees consisted of students that came from numerous resident halls, their friends and employees that work in the resident halls. To start off the workshop, a film called “The Escalation Workshop” was shown to the audience. In the film, the actors portrayed victims and aggressors of dating violence. There were different situations and scenarios that were shown.
After the film was shown, Evaneski began a discussion-based forum with the students, providing statistics on dating violence and asking for opinions of the film. In addition, Evaneski asked if they had a different perspective on dating violence after attending the workshop.
Most of the students who responded did have different outlooks. Many agreed that it is important to detect warning signs in a volatile relationship.
Evaneski stated that the primary purpose of the work is prevention.
“We know that by having these workshops, we are showing students signs of unhealthy relationships and discussing what are healthy components of any relationship,” Evaneski said. “Until you are in that situation yourself, you do not know what to do or how to step in. Sometimes friends think, ‘It’s none of my business,’ or ‘What if I am wrong.’ It is like any bystander intervention. If you see something, say something or do something. We want to help our students develop those skills.”
Evaneski said workshops such as this one help to spread awareness about dating violence and the effect it can have on relationships, friends and family. It also reinforces to students and employees that speaking up is okay, whether one is a victim or witness of escalation in dating violence.
In instances such as these, there are usually warning signs that one should look out for.
“Look out for any behavior that is controlling, jealous, intense, isolating or belittling,” Evaneski said. “The One Love Foundation launched a new program called ‘Behind the Post’ and looks at these behaviors in a new way. Every relationship is different, and we advise friends to talk about the concerning behavior that they are seeing. Students and employees can also consult with me to get advice about how to approach a friend.”
The One Love Foundation was started after Yeardley Love was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend three weeks before their graduation at the University of Virginia. The movement was started by her family, friends and peers, and it is continually spreading awareness about dating violence nationwide as it becomes a growing issue, especially on college campuses.
“More than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced intimate partner violence. Most female and male victims of intimate partner violence, 69 percent of female victims and 53 percent of male victims, experienced some form of intimate partner violence for the first time before 25 years of age,” according to the One Love manual.
“I am sure there is more research happening now about college students since there is a greater emphasis in college and university policies, as well as state and federal laws regarding prevention and response requirements,” Evaneski said.
Oswego State senior and resident assistant Laura Smith also shared her views on dating violence escalation. She said that she attended the workshop to help encourage other residents to come to the workshop and to gain knowledge about dating violence.
Smith said she recommends for other students on campus to speak with Evaneski because she is very knowledgeable on this subject and hosts workshops like this often.
If students want to speak to Evaneski about any concerns regarding any Title IX issues, she can be reached via phone (315)312-5604 or email lisa.evaneski@oswego.edu.
Photo: Dori Gronich | The Oswegonian
