In the shadows of our homes, schools and society, a harsh truth remains hidden: Domestic Violence.
It’s an urgent issue transcending borders, affecting lives silently and persistently. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Florida A&M University’s Victim Advocate Program and the Division of Student Affairs hosted an event Thursday, Purple Table Talk.
An interactive group of club members and others gathered in the SGA multipurpose room to discuss and share heartfelt testimonies on various topics surrounding domestic violence.
Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence or family violence, is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one person to gain and maintain power and control over another person within the context of an intimate or familial relationship. This abusive behavior can be physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual, often resulting in harm and fear or manipulation of the victim. Domestic violence can take various forms, including physical violence such as hitting, slapping or restraining; emotional and psychological abuse like manipulation, threats and control; as well as sexual abuse, financial abuse and even stalking.
It is not limited to any specific gender, age or socioeconomic group and can occur in heterosexual and same-sex relationships.
Efforts to combat domestic violence involve raising awareness, providing support and resources for victims, and implementing legal measures to protect those at risk. Domestic violence is a serious social issue that impacts the lives of millions of people and requires a concerted effort to prevent and address it effectively. VAP is offered to all students on campus to ensure they get the appropriate aid they need to help regain their well-being.
Shauntavia Clinton, FAMU VAP adviser and host of Purple Table Talk, spoke about how many students on campus believe “toxic love is real love.” She said, “We had a red flag, green flag event, and I found out that many students think a lot of behaviors that are toxic are considered cute.”
Clinton shared various scenarios of student reactions to what they consider cute, which are, in reality, toxic behaviors.
In particular, abusers use intimidation as a tactic in a domestic relationship to maintain control and power. Clinton emphasized that this behavior can lead to significant psychological and emotional harm to the victim, often leaving them feeling trapped, anxious, and unable to break free from the abusive situation. She recalled an incident during her work at a refugee diversity shelter where a survivor was traumatized by her abuser’s presence.
“We had a survivor who was just scared by her abuser looking at her, hearing his voice, and anything relating to her abuser. I remember one night shift, she drove her vehicle to the facility and when she parked her car and got out, her abuser was found in the truck,” Clinton said.
According to rainn.org, college-age individuals face a heightened risk of sexual violence, whether they are students or not. Among male college-aged individuals (18-24), there is a 78% higher likelihood of experiencing rape or sexual assault compared to their non-student counterparts of the same age. For female college-aged individuals (18-24), the risk is 20% lower than that of non-students in the same age group.
Notably, sexual violence is more prevalent on college campuses compared to other crimes.
Niala, a fourth-year business administration student from Orlando, shared a personal testimony about being sexually assaulted by an employee at Florida A&M University, leading to discrimination and mental strain after reporting the incident.
“The athletic trainer sexually assaulted me, someone who had a history of sexually assaulting middle school girls. It was disappointing because it’s somebody that, like the athletes, we put our trust in to take care of and treat us,” she said.
A significant portion of college sexual assaults, more than half, tend to cluster within the initial four months of the academic year, August through November. This is a time when students may be particularly vulnerable to such incidents.