October was national Domestic Violence Awareness month, and on October 20, Southern Adventist University joined with the National Network to End Domestic Violence to raise awareness. Following NEDV’s custom of “Purple Thursday,” the School of Social Work invited the campus to join the cause by wearing purple for the day.

Students were also encouraged to stop by the Student Center, where a photo booth was set up so people could have their picture taken with purple props. Participants were encouraged to use the hashtag #purplethursday when posting on social media as a way to help raise awareness about ending domestic violence.

“Many may not realize that one in three women is affected by domestic violence in their lifetime and one in four men experience violence from their partners,” said Annette Heck, associate professor of social work.

Heck emphasized the importance of being informed about the prevalence of domestic violence in an effort to help with early intervention, while also providing support to those who have been victims.

“My hope is that we will host the event again and we will continue partnering with the community to spread the word in the greater Chattanooga area,” Heck said.

To learn more about how to prevent violence, visit nomore.org or visit the National Network to End Domestic Violence web site at nnedv.org for important safety tips and resources.