The Women's Center will host events and activities throughout October in recognition of national Dating and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The month will kick off with the launch of the HopeLine phone collection, a month-long phone drive to collect used phones for those affected by domestic violence. The collection is organized in partnership with community groups and Verizon Wireless. Used cell phones can be dropped off at the Women's Center, 1201 Kirkhof Center.
All events are free and open to the public.
• Clothesline Project, October 5-16, Kirkhof Center
Displays in Kirkhof Center and DeVos Center will share messages of hope and personal stories of dating and domestic violence. Students, faculty and staff members can create a T-shirt for the display in the Women's Center. It is organized by Eyes Wide Open.
• "The Hunting Ground" film showing, October 6, at 6 p.m., Cook-DeWitt Center
The award-winning documentary spotlights sexual assault on college campuses. Learn more at www.thehuntinggroundfilm.com.
• Bystander Intervention Training, October 16, from 12:30-5 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library
Trainers from the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence will teach students, faculty and staff members how to be effective bystanders in situations of domestic violence, sexual assault, bullying and other situations. The training is part of Grand Valley's It's On Us initiative.
• Silent Witness, October 26, at noon, Kirkhof Center, room 2263
Life-sized silhouettes that will be displayed on campus during October will be gathered and the individual stories on each piece will be read out loud.
• "Telling Amy's Story" film showing and panel discussion, October 27, at 7:30 pm., Kirkhof Center, Pere Marquette Room
The 15-minute documentary follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred in Pennsylvania in 2001.
For more information, contact the Women's Center at (616) 331-2748.
