Diamonds might be forever and every kiss might begin with Kay, but solid relationships aren't built on budget blowouts or even holiday extravaganzas.
Valentine's Day has the reputation of being a consumerist, overly-material holiday - and that reputation isn't too far from the truth. However, with the number of organizations currently holding awareness weeks to spread messages about safety in relationships, Valentine's Day on this campus has become about much more than gifts or special evenings.
Organizations on this campus are using Valentine's Day as a reason to spread awareness and share knowledge. While people are in the mood to talk about relationships, these groups are taking the chance to make those conversations more enlightened, informed and conscious of potential dangers.
According to the American Psychological Association's Web site and a U.S. Department of Justice survey, 76 percent of the women who are victims of violence were assaulted by their intimate partners, and 18 percent of male victims were attacked by their significant others. Abuse within relationships happens across all boundaries - people of every age, race and sexual preference experience it. And much of the time, relationship abuse goes unreported.
With the Counseling Center's Sexual Assault Awareness Week and the Ball State V-DAY Campaign's Vagina-Friendly Week, messages about abuse in relationships are being shared this Valentine's Day and the days surrounding it. The organizations are changing Valentine's Day from just another "Hallmark holiday" to a chance for making a difference in the lives - and relationships - of the people in this campus community.
This year, the theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Week is "Illuminating the Path to Stop Sexual Violence," which coincides with the VDAY Campaign's slogan, "Until the Violence Stops." Each organization has arranged events to educate and empower those in the university community to overcome the types of violence that can become even greater dangers this time of year.
With Valentine's Day, these awareness weeks and even the Black History Month activities all coinciding this week, the university community should be learning two over-arching Valentine's Day lessons: Respect is forever, and every understanding begins with you.
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