Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2026

Posted on Author RCC

Each October, communities across the country recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to acknowledge the impact of domestic violence, remember those whose lives were lost and strengthen our commitment to prevention.

A red silhouette of a woman with a QR code to read a survivor story in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

RCC is sharing that message with our campus community through the Silent Witness Project, a public awareness display featuring life-sized silhouettes representing survivors and also people who lost their lives as a result of domestic violence. As you encounter these figures around campus, we invite you to pause, reflect and consider how each of us can contribute to a safer and more supportive community.

Domestic violence affects people of every age, gender, race, culture, economic background and educational experience. It can affect students, employees, friends, family members, classmates and colleagues. Domestic violence can include physical violence, but it can also take many other forms, including emotional or psychological abuse, sexual violence, reproductive coercion, threats, stalking, isolation, and financial abuse.

Sometimes the signs are visible; often, they are not. A person experiencing abuse may miss class or work, withdraw from friends, seem anxious or unusually fearful, or have difficulty concentrating. They may also appear to be doing just fine. There is no single way that a survivor responds to abuse.

The Silent Witness figures remind us that behind every statistic is a real person with relationships, hopes, plans and a future that matters. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You do not have to navigate it alone. Learn more at RCC’s Title IX and Counseling webpages.

For more information, please contact Lucia Bartscher (541-956-7124) or Julia Fisher (541-956-7195).

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