by Erin Bush, Clemson University Student
During Clemson University’s Homecoming celebration on October 8, Clemson students will be recognizing more than their school’s history; they’ll be raising awareness for domestic violence. The students’ efforts are part of a class project to support Safe Harbor, a domestic violence shelter and education outreach organization in Upstate S.C., and to promote Domestic Violence Awareness month during October.
The students’ projects during Homecoming events will include:
- Adding purple ribbons, the color of domestic violence awareness, to the Homecoming floats. The floats will be built and displayed on Clemson’s Bowman Field.
- Hosting a table on Bowman Field during the week leading up to the game – and several hours prior to kick-off – to provide educational materials from Safe Harbor and Clemson’s Redfern Health Center.
- Displaying a banner announcing Domestic Violence Awareness month on the float that will be showcased during the football game’s halftime show.
“Encouraging healthy relationships and raising awareness about domestic violence were goals that fit perfectly with the atmosphere of Clemson’s Homecoming,” said Claiborne Linvill, instructor of the Communication Studies class that is leading the projects. “Clemson University is a family, and our students want all families to be healthy, happy and safe.”
A major objective of the class project is to raise awareness about Safe Harbor and their Relationship Education Program, or R.E.P., on social networking sites. At the table on Bowman Field, there will be opportunities for attendees to “follow” or “like” the organization on Facebook or Twitter. Additionally, students will offer face painting for children and the opportunity for donations to be made to Safe Harbor.
Neil McDonald, vice president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, one of the Greek organizations taking part in the festivities, remarked, “As part of the Clemson family, our organization was honored to pomp a purple ribbon on our Homecoming float and display a banner to spread awareness for both Safe Harbor and Domestic Violence Awareness month. Women age 16 – 24 are the most likely to experience relationship violence, so education about this issue is especially important to our whole campus, as well as our community of alumni and visitors.”
Clemson will host Boston College on Saturday, October 8, for Homecoming. The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the corresponding color is purple. For more information about Safe Harbor, visit www.SafeHarborSC.org.
