The university based center for domestic violence, The P.E.A.C.E. Project, held its open house on Friday to inform students of domestic violence on and off campus and to introduce them to “Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” during the month of October.The P.E.A.C.E. (prevention, education, awareness, courage and elimination) Project, which is headed by new program director Mollene R. Williams, coordinated the event to bring awareness to sexual and domestic assault, violence and stalking at the university. The event also left students with information that may help if any harmful situation happens off campus grounds.
Williams, P.E.A.C.E. Project volunteers, and students gathered to become aware of the types of violence that occur at the university, drugs that are used to perpetrate acts of violence, and how important it is to report violent acts.
“The purpose of the P.E.A.C.E. Project is to coordinate campus and community response to prevent and eliminate the kind of violence that mainly targets women,” Williams said. She said the program also provides advice for male students. “We are here for the campus and community,” she added. There are 32 emergency phones located around the university. Williams explained that these phones are linked to a tracking system and a dispatcher so victims will not have to disclose their location.
During the month of October, the P.E.A.C.E. project will play host to several events to bring students closer to the realities of domestic violence. These events include collecting old Verizon Wireless cell phones to donate to victims of domestic violence, movie night and a dramatization on domestic violence by the Charles Gilpin Players.
For a comprehensive calendar of events and more information on the P.E.A.C.E. Project email the organization at peace@pvamu.edu, call extension 2008 or stop by Owens-Franklin Heath Center, room 116.