Editor's Note: The original version of the article referred to Lisa Lindquist as Linda. This mistake has now been corrected. The Daily Lobo apologizes for this error.
There’s a purpose behind the purple today.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in recognition of that LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center asked the University of New Mexico campus to wear purple today. It also happens to be the day of observance and all around the country communities are partaking in “Purple Thursday.”
Lisa Lindquist, director of LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, said Purple Thursday is a chance for the campus to observe and show solidarity in awareness of domestic and intimate relationship violence.
Lindquist said domestic violence is often associated with things seen on TV, but more often than this there are instances that are under the radar.
On-campus resources for people in an abusive relationship include the Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) and three confidential reporting locations: the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, the Women’s Resource Center and the LGBTQ Resource Center.
After visiting a resource center, Lindquist said the next step would be to connect someone through the Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), a local organization focusing on the prevention, intervention, and recovery services for victims of domestic violence, according to the DVRC website.
Lindquist said each resource center has their own level of expertise, and the DVRC trains their staff specifically in domestic violence work.
One aspect of receiving help for an abusive relationship includes a safety plan, which Lindquist said is like an “emergency evacuation plan” and is a crucial piece in leaving an abusive partner.
Some signs of an abusive relationship to look out for are isolation, signs of physical abuse, change in behavior, feelings of being stalked, coercive behavior, name-calling and emotional abuse, Lindquist said.
When addressing how to help someone who may be in an abusive relationship, Lindquist said, “Just letting people know you see them and that you’re there for them, and that acknowledgment is really important, but also holding that space and understanding getting out of those relationships is not simple.”
Madison Spratto is the news editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Madi_Spratto.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
