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Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

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Intimate Partner Violence on College Campuses

Bystander Intervention, Prevention, and Education

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There are a few things that you can do to help stop intimate partner violence (IPV) on your campus.  Some effective ways to help raise awareness about IPV is to learn to be an active bystander, advocate for training for your college, or start a public awareness campaign.

Bystander Intervention

Bystander intervention is an invaluable tool in the fight against IPV, but many people will not intervene if they do not know the right way to go about it or when to get involved. If you witness IPV, you can be an active bystander whether you know the people involved or not. You have the power to stop incidents of abuse by: gathering a group to talk to the abuser, creating a distraction, speaking up and letting the abuser know their actions are not okay, telling a trusted college official about what you saw, or calling the police/campus security.  While calling 911 or campus security can be overwhelming, it’s important to involve law enforcement if you feel your or someone else’s safety has been threatened or is in danger. Even if you feel it is not your place to get involved, remember that IPV is not a personal problem; it is a serious crime that affects us all. For more information on how you can be an active bystander visit: Respect Love or Stop Abuse.

Prevention and Education

Another way to work towards ending IPV is to raise awareness on your campus and in your community.  There are many campaigns you can become involved in and bring to your university, church, or community.  You can print free posters from the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and use them to start a conversation about healthy relationships.  You can also start an advocacy group on your campus that holds events to raise awareness about IPV and other related issues. 

Training Programs for your Community

For information on dating violence training that may be available in your area, contact your local Domestic Violence Program. 

Public Awareness Campaigns

Some public awareness events you may want to consider bringing to your area include: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February, Take Back the Night and Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
For more information on these awareness months visit:

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