CNU raises 'red flag' on abusive relationships - Virginia
LOCAL NEWS CNU raises 'red flag' on abusive relationships 11:38 AM EDT on Friday, October 27, 2006 By Dottie Wikan, WVEC.com Christopher Newport University is raising the red flag, so to speak, on abusive relationships. It's one of 10 Virginia colleges and universities taking part in the statewide initiative to help students identify the signs of abusive relationships. CNU put up 300 posters in residence halls and other campus buildings that outline signs of abusive relationships, such as coercion, sexual assault, isolation, jealousy, emotional abuse, and victim blaming. They have young adults holding red flags with examples of abusive relationships. One says, "He said if I really loved him, I'd have sex with him." Another says,"I didn't want to put her down in front of her friends, but she just wouldn't shut up." Yet another says, "He makes me think I'm fat and stupid and no one else would want me." Students were surveyed before the posters were displayed, and they will be surveyed after exposure to the posters to determine whether there is change in their behaviors, attitudes or knowledge regarding the red flags of abusive relationships, school officials said. The campaign was the result of the combined work of students, faculty and victim advocates from nearly 20 colleges and universities across Virginia. The Red Flag Campaign is sponsored by Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and is conducted in October because it's Domestic Violence Awareness Month. http://www.wvec.com/news/local/stories/wvec__local_102606_cnu_red_flags.7c4a0c65.html

The Red Flag Campaign The Red Flag Campaign is the first statewide public awareness campaign to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on Virginia’s college campuses. The Campaign is a project of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and was created by Virginia college students, college personnel, and community victim advocates. The Campaign is funded by a generous grant from the Verizon Foundation. Research indicates that in 21% of college dating relationships, one of the partners is being abused. That’s 1 in 5 relationships (see citation below). Whether you are a student seeking help for yourself or a friend, or a professional seeking information about how you can help students, we hope the materials on this website will be helpful to you. View the Red Flag Campaign poster series: Emotional Abuse Excessive Jealousy Isolation Victim-Blaming Coercion Sexual Assault Healthy Relationship vs. Dating Violence C. Sellers and M. Bromley, “Violent Behavior in College Student Dating Relationships,” Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice (1996) The Red Flag Campaign is a project of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and was created thanks to the generous support of the Verizon Foundation. http://www.theredflagcampaign.org:8000/