It will be over 300 days before Domestic Violence Awareness Month will come around again, but it is a topic that should have light shed on it every day. UTEP Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE) hosts annual resource fairs in October. On Oct. 29, UTEP CARE hosted their annual resource fair, in collaboration with campus departments and community agencies. The fair was meant to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and remind victims that they have a voice.
Among the resources available were UTEP’s Title IX program, counseling and psychological services, and the District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance program.
Raul Ramirez is a victim advocate working with the district attorney’s office. Ramirez helps to assist victims whose cases go through the two felony counts he is assigned to. Some of his tasks include hearings, resolutions and recommendations for the victim.
“It’s good to be out here to provide the services to the community, we’re here to serve them,” said Ramirez. “There’s a percentage of people that don’t know this service is provided to them, and their voice counts. They have a vote and a say, and they deserve the help that they need.”
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 12 million people suffered from intimate partner violence in 2011. Additionally, almost half of all women and men in the U.S experienced psychological aggression from a partner in their lifetime the same year.
Sarah Tellez, a multimedia journalism major and member of CARE said that hosting resource fairs can help prevent cases of domestic violence and sexual assault, some of which can result in fatal instances, in a college setting. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experience higher rates of intimate partner violence.
“(CARE) serves students, staff, and faculty that have been victims of crimes of any sort, but something that still carries a really big stigma is sexual assault and domestic violence, so that’s why we have these events and we try to bring off campus agencies, so they can share resources to anyone that may be wondering what the steps are to take if they’re going through that situation,” said Tellez.
She said that these services are important to remind victims that their voices matter.
“I think it’s important for especially college students to understand that they don’t have to be scared,” said Tellez. “There’s a lot of different resources that are here to help them and by raising awareness and speaking about their stories can inspire someone else to speak about theirs and seek help.”
October can unite advocates to help those who have been victims of domestic violence. For those who are suffering from domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support by calling 1-800-799-7233.
Sofia Sierra is the sports editor and may be reached at [email protected]
