By Abigail Connolly

The seventh annual Yards for Yeardley event is scheduled to take place April 27 in the Academic Quad on SUNY Oswego’s campus. 

This event is held in honor of Yeardley Love, a victim of dating and domestic violence, who lost her life just three weeks before she was set to graduate college in 2010, at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. One Love, an organization dedicated to educating people on healthy and unhealthy relationships and empowering individuals to identify and avoid abuse, supports this event nationally. April is the national Sexual Assault Awareness month and One Love and similar organizations are dedicating time and resources to offer prevention programs, donation drives and campaigns.

Lisa Evaneski, the Title IX coordinator for SUNY Oswego, has been a fierce advocate for the Yards for Yeardley event and is honored to have the tradition continue this year. 

“It means the world to me to honor Yeardley Love, Alex Kogut, Kristin Mitchell, Kelsey Annese and so many more lives lost too young,” Evaneski sad. “I have been in touch with most of their families over the years and understand it’s both an honor and a responsibility to try to prevent sexual and interpersonal violence.”

While the Title IX office at SUNY Oswego has been participating in the Yards for Yeardley event the past seven years, COVID-19 prevented the typical, on-campus event from occurring. Evaneski is excited to return to the in person format and see participants on campus.

“Transitioning back to an on-campus event has definitely been exciting and a little nerve-racking,” Evaneski said.  “We realize that a lot of students just don’t really understand what Yards for Yeardley is because they weren’t around for the in person events prior to 2020. We are excited to be back in person again because I think people are craving this type of event after years of COVID lockdowns and canceled events.”

In 2020 and 2021, the SUNY Oswego Yards for Yeardley was held virtually, with participants logging miles and reporting them to the volunteer team on campus. The remote option will be returning this year in order to encourage more participation. Evaneski believes that the inclusion of the remote option will allow alumni and community members to participate. 

“The remote option started during the pandemic,” Evaneski said. “What we saw though was that people who used to work here or our alums found a way to continue to participate from afar. We have students and employees that are online only that can participate now. So we will continue to allow it although we prefer that anyone who can come to campus, participates in person.”

Participants are encouraged to walk, run or “roll” on skateboards, scooters or bicycles,  to get their yards in. For those able to participate on campus, Evaneski says they can expect to see lots of energy. 

“We will have resources, pictures of victims of violence and statistics along the course. We have students, faculty, staff, parents, alums, dogs, children, community members participating,” Evaneski said.  “We have challenges coming out of the academic Dean’s offices, we have groups being formed in residence halls and student organizations. We have a fun group called the “finance fanatics” made up of the budget and accounting offices on campus. This event is for our entire community and anyone who wants to participate.”

For more information regarding Yards for Yeardley and other Title IX events, visit https://ww1.oswego.edu/title-ix/. Evaneski says there are a number of local and campus resources available. 

“First and foremost, students and employees can contact the Title IX Coordinator for assistance with jobs, classes, resources and referrals,” Evaneski said. “Locally, Services to Aid Families has a 24 hour hotline, 315-342-1600, that anyone can call to get help immediately. There’s also a great resource that SUNY created where you can find resources all over New York even if you’re not part of a SUNY campus.”

Registration for Yards for Yeardley will close at 4 p.m. April 26. The registration form can be found at tinyurl.com/OzYards22.

Image via Title IX Coordinator Lisa Evaneski