To mark the national observation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Rhodes Title IX Board is holding a toiletry drive on campus and tabling in the Rat to spread awareness and show support for survivors of domestic violence.
The donations will go toward three residential communities in the Memphis area that host survivors of domestic violence. “A lot of the time, survivors of domestic violence will get up and leave everything that they have very quickly,” says Title IX Coordinator Tiffany Cox. Without the financial means to replace all of their household products, these communities rely on outside donations to supply their resources. Donation boxes are located in the Lair, Middle Ground, and at Rhodes Express, and flyers are posted listing those items needed most—primarily cleaning supplies and hygiene products.
On campuses, domestic violence may manifest differently from the physical or financial abuse usually associated with this topic. Cox explains that the most common reports tend to be characterized as emotional abuse, which includes efforts to control a partner through threats of self-harm, isolating a person from friends and family, and verbal abuse, such as repeatedly demeaning an intimate partner.
“If you’re not the one experiencing dating or domestic violence, it can be frustrating because you think, ‘Just get out of the relationship.’ But it’s never that simple for the person who’s actually experiencing it,” says Cox. “Don’t let a friend’s reluctance or inability to leave an abusive relationship affect your decision to keep supporting them.”
Domestic violence constitutes a violation of Rhodes’ sexual misconduct policy and, when it interferes with one’s ability to engage in educational pursuits, is a violation of Title IX. For those seeking a formal process to redress instances of domestic violence, the Title IX office can conduct investigations, hold hearings, and enforce sanctions on perpetrators. In addition, the Rhodes chaplain and the counseling center are both confidential resources on campus for people experiencing or witnessing domestic violence to seek emotional support or guidance.
By Jaclyn Flood ’21