Before arriving at William and Mary in August, freshmen were made to complete a program called “Haven”, which educated them about the dangers and prevalence of sexual abuse on a college campus. Most students, including myself, mindlessly clicked through the information, paying no attention to the real issues that were being presented to them.
When I went through sorority recruitment at the beginning of the semester and ended up joining Alpha Chi Omega, I was made aware of how strong an issue domestic violence is, even on a college campus that appears to be completely safe. Alpha Chi Omega at William and Mary works with the local Avalon shelter and several other organizations to raise money and awareness for our philanthropy. Many people are not willing to take the time to understand the issue of domestic violence and support its victims, but AXO is doing its best to change that.
This week, February 9th through 13th, is healthy relationships week. Chapters across the country are promoting awareness for domestic violence what it means to have a strong relationship in a plethora of ways. Sisters are sharing what love means to them and inviting everyone on campus to do the same. Love can come from anyone and anywhere, and it’s incredible to see how different people and organizations define it.
If you simply take five minutes this week to think about what women everywhere are going through in terms of domestic violence, that can make a difference. If you want to learn more about healthy relationships and healthy Alpha Chi Omega love, come visit our table in Sadler all week. We are hoping to promote real strong women this week and every week.