“Relationship violence is an issue relevant to ourselves, our families and friends, and our community,” said Tee Rogers, coordinator of UCF’s United Way Campaign. “It is crucial to the health of our university and community to have intentional conversations and to support solution-focused community resources.”

According to a survey by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, one in four women and one in seven men have been the victims of physical violence by an intimate partner.

Moderated by Karen Hofmann, director of UCF Counseling and Psychological Services, the expert panelists addressed questions from their unique perspectives. The panel included Michael Freeman, counselor and professor; Adam Pritchard, professor of sociology; Bibi Brown, crisis specialist with United Way 2-1-1; Katelyn Busowski, domestic-violence survivor, advocate and UCF student; and Christine Mouton, director of UCF Victim Services.

In addition to the panel discussion, Heart of Florida United Way, UCF CARES, UCF Victim Services, domestic-violence survivor and author Debra Perleberg, Harbor House of Central Florida, Help Now of Osceola, and SafeHouse of Seminole provided resources to prevent domestic violence.

Additional events are planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Clothesline Project, a national effort to give survivors of domestic abuse an opportunity to speak out against domestic violence by decorating a T-shirt. T-shirts are free and can be decorated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays during campus Market Day. The shirts will be hung inside the Student Union throughout October.

If you have been involved in intimate-partner violence and would like to speak with an advocate, you can reach one 24/7 by calling 407-823-1200. For ongoing counseling and support, contact UCF’s Counseling and Psychological Services at 407-823-2811.

During October, UCF’s United Way Campaign raises funds for health and human service programs that provide critical care and assistance.

Members from 11 Florida institutions and one Georgia institution participated in the day-long conference. Participants included Dean of Students, Counseling Center staff, case managers and staff who support students of concern or students in distress as part of their primary job responsibilities.

Michael Freeman, education and training coordinator for UCF Wellness and Health Promotion Services, presented on self-care and cultural competencies for case management, “Balancing Case Management and Care Services on a College Campus: The Fine Art of Managing Expectations & Self-Care.”

Ann Marie Palmer, assistant director for Student Care Services, reflected: “We were very excited to host the conference again this year. It is an opportunity to meet with peers and discuss how case management is growing and evolving in higher education. Since most institutions only have one or a handful of case managers, having the opportunity to meet with peers is essential in order to best serve our students.”

For more information about Student Care Services, visit: .

The repercussions of bullying – self-mutilation, self-hatred and suicide are what mobilized the groups to take action. They don’t want UCF to suffer through a suicide before it  realizes that bullying is a serious issue on campus.

The students found it very humbling taking over the union that day. They distributed blank T-shirts and had students write unpleasant words they’d been called throughout their lives on the front. On the back, they were to do the opposite – write positive aspects they loved about themselves. The message was simple: we all get bullied, but as a community we will overcome.

Freshman Tsciena White commented, “Oftentimes students struggle to say positive things about themselves. We’re so quick to be hard on ourselves and point out our downfalls. The campaign was a great idea because it encouraged us to embrace our better halves.”

The LEAD Scholars Program is in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.