C.A.R.E. hosts Ribbons for Relationship Violence Awareness

The Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education office hosted Ribbons for Relationship Violence on Oct. 10. Students participated in crafting purple ribbons and learning about relationship violence to commemorate Relationship Violence Awareness Month.

Ribbons for Relationship Violence is coordinated by UC Santa Barbara alum Stephanie Raya. She serves as the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Specialist for both the Campus Advocacy, Resources & Education (C.A.R.E.) office and the Health & Wellness office. 

The C.A.R.E. office supports survivors of relationship violence, sexual assault, stalking and harassment. They are able to connect students with resources on and off campus, including state-certified advocates. 

“We are confidential … We’re not associated with Title IX or [the] University of California Police Department,” Raya stated. 

The event began with C.A.R.E.’s goals to encourage “capable leaders,” create “active bystanders” and help destigmatize discussions about relationship violence. Raya expressed how the recent alleged Chi Phi rape case at Cornell University makes this event, and the effort to raise awareness about relationship violence, all the more important.

Those in attendance fashioned small purple ribbons, the symbol of Relationship Violence Awareness Month. These will be available on campus at the Student Resource Building and University Center.  

“This way, we’re asking students to do the work with us, not just listen and learn but rather help us actually make an impact on the community,” Raya said. 

As the students crafted, Raya delivered a presentation about the characteristics of a harmful relationship and the history behind Relationship Violence Awareness Month. The presentation also contained information on how to intervene in a potentially dangerous situation using the “three Ds” to bystander intervention: direct, delegate and distract. 

Another topic of conversation was the perceived barriers that often stifles survivors from coming forward. 

“A lot of folks don’t fully realize the barriers that exist on why someone may not want to leave a relationship … there’s a lot of shame still in our community, where I think a lot of survivors feel uncomfortable sharing their experiences and feel like they did something to deserve that harm,” Raya mentioned.

C.A.R.E. advocates stressed the message that “we all deserve healthy love” and highlighted how to support a loved one who is experiencing an unhealthy relationship. They also notified students of C.A.R.E.’s 24/7 confidential phone line, which can be found on the UCSB C.A.R.E. website, as well as on the back of student access cards.

This event offered an hour of community service to groups on campus that require it, such as sororities. With the turnout being lower than expected, Raya expressed her desire to reach more students. 

“My hope is for them to be more engaged in these conversations,” she said. 

Daniel Recinos, a third-year psychological & brain sciences major, said his experience at the event was positive. 

“I always love doing arts and crafts, especially doing something that I know is going to have an impact on a lot of students here on campus — it’s special to me,” he said. 

A version of this article appeared on p. 5 of the Oct. 15 print edition of the Daily Nexus.