SU aims to lead community participation in Vera House’sWhite Ribbon Campaign to end domestic violence

SU aims to lead community participation in Vera House’sWhite Ribbon Campaign to end domestic violenceMarch 19, 2007Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

For 10 days this spring, more than 40,000 members of the Central New York community are expected to participate in Vera House’s White Ribbon Campaign, a community-wide initiative to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence. This year, Syracuse University aims to lead the charge, with the goal of becoming the Central New York community’s leading provider of Vera House’s white ribbons, wrist bands and lapel pins, which visibly represent wearers’ commitment to a culture that does not tolerate gender-based violence.

From March 23-April 1, white ribbons ($1), wrist bands ($1), and lapel pins ($5) will be available to all members of the University and Central New York communities through the Office of the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs. They will be available for purchase in person at Room 518 of Crouse-Hinds Hall during business hours and in the atrium of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekdays throughout the campaign. Orders for large quantities or advance purchase can be made by contacting Jennifer L. Uryniak, assistant director/financial analyst, at (315) 443-4357 or jluryniak@syr.edu; University departments that wish to pay for their orders with I.D.s should contact Uryniak for instructions.

“When we talk about engaged scholarship at Syracuse University, we mean the alignment of our intellectual and social resources with our responsibilities as community members,” says Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “Along these lines, Syracuse is increasingly becoming known as a center for efforts to stop gender-based violence, whether through our Take Back the Night Week; the ground-breaking Syracuse Partnership for Violence Prevention; or our presentation of world-class anti-violence speakers, including Deborah Prothrow-Stith and Don McPherson. White ribbons give all members of the University and broader communities the chance to demonstrate their individual and collective commitments to this vitally important cause.” Wells, a member of the Vera House Foundation board of directors and honorary chair of its 2005 White Ribbon Campaign, chairs SU’s participation in Vera House’s local effort.

One of the highlights of this year’s campaign at SU will be a demonstration of how the University and community are collaborating to make Syracuse an epicenter for violence prevention efforts. In “Responding to Domestic and Sexual Violence — the University and the City: Two Communities as One,” representatives of the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office and Vera House will come together with staff and students from the University Rape: Advocacy, Prevention, and Education (R.A.P.E.) Center; the Office of Multicultural Affairs; the Department of Public Safety; the Interfraternity Council; and the Panhellenic Council to conduct a panel discussion on ways in which the University and community are working together and can expand their partnerships on this important issue. The free, public event, to be held Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in Crouse-Hinds Auditorium, is organized by Rami S. Badawy, director of the Office of Judicial Affairs and White Ribbon Campaign committee member; and Roy W. Baker, director of fraternity and sorority affairs in the Office of Residence Life. Additional details of this and other White Ribbon Campaign events will be announced in the coming days.

The White Ribbon Campaign leads the University community into the month of April, which has widely become recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. A variety of University-wide initiatives will build on the awareness created by the White Ribbon Campaign, including Take Back the Night Week, the “Got Consent?” campaign, SU’s signature Take Back the Night Rally, SU’s continued participation in the grant-funded Syracuse Partnership for Violence Prevention, and participation in the national Day of Silence sponsored by the LGBT Resource Center. More information on individual events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Vera House works to end all domestic and sexual violence, to assist families in crisis, to support those affected by domestic and sexual violence to live safe, self-sufficient lives, to empower women and children; and to promote a culture of equality and respect in relationships. Located in Syracuse for 30 years, it offers numerous programs and services, including 24-hour crisis hotlines. It introduced the White Ribbon Campaign to Central New York 13 years ago, and will host several events in the community during this year’s campaign. For more information, visit http://verahouse.org.

For more information on the White Ribbon Campaign at SU, contact the Office of the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at 443-4263.