Annual WRC series commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
By Taya Bohenko, Staff Reporter
Editor’s note—content warning: This story includes references to domestic violence and sexual assault, which may be distressing for some readers.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Women’s Resource Center is helping Toros learn to recognize when a relationship may be unhealthy or potentially dangerous. On Sept. 25, the WRC hosted the first meeting of “Lovers and Friends,” an annual series focused on exploring healthy relationships of all kinds.
The series offers a space for students to have open conversations about friendships, family bonds, and romantic connections in an inclusive environment.
“We are all about creating a community, and also, creating a sense of belonging for students,” said Alyeska Gutierrez Estrada, the WRC program coordinator. “We’re looking at things from various lenses, and are really striving to promote gender equity.”
Programs at the WRC often focus on critical issues related to identity and safety, Estrada said. She added that addressing domestic violence and sexual assault has been part of the center’s mission since its founding in 1972.
“We can’t heal people, but we want to inform them,” Estrada told The Bulletin. “We’re really big on if you have the information you need to make decisions for yourself and your specific needs.”
About 26% of female college students and nearly 7% of male students experience rape or sexual assault involving physical force, violence, or incapacitation, according to the nonprofit RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).
Beverly Palmer, a licensed clinical psychologist, has written extensively about the warning signs that can emerge in relationship dynamics. She told The Bulletin that identifying unhealthy relationship patterns is crucial—whether in romantic, family or platonic relationships.
“Some of it relates to expectations,” said Palmer, professor emeritus in the CSUDH Department of Psychology. “If you’re expecting reciprocity, that can be a problem. If you give something to someone, if you take them out to lunch and are expecting them to take you out, that’s not true in all cultural groups. The person you’re with may not have the same values.”
Palmer added that empathic communication is the “number one social skill” in any relationship.
“Listening with your eyes, ears, and heart so you can pick up the essence of what the other person is saying,” she said.
A junior CSUDH student told The Bulletin that although she couldn’t attend the WRC’s workshop, she had ignored the “red flags” in a former relationship for a long time.
“My friends saw it as abusive, but I didn’t at the time. When I finally left, I didn’t have any desire to do anything, especially with school,” said the student, who requested anonymity because of privacy concerns. “But my friends were right there to support me. If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have made it.”
Palmer said loneliness has become increasingly common among her patients.
“It’s become much more of an issue in the last two years than it has for a long time,” Palmer explained. “We 100% have to have healthy relationships in order to have a healthy body and mind.”
Other WRC programs aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault include “Little Black Dress,” an event supporting survivors, and “No Thx: The 411 on Setting Boundaries,” which offers guidance on communicating personal boundaries while maintaining relationships.
The center’s annual “Clothesline Project” event is scheduled for Oct. 9.
“The Clothesline Project is a physical installment where we hang clotheslines with shirts from survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence,” said Estrada, the WRC coordinator. “We hang the shirts on the north lawn, right outside of [Loker Student Union]. Every shirt you see is going to represent someone impacted by this issue.”
Students affected by domestic violence, sexual assault or unhealthy relationships can contact the Women’s Resource Center, located in Classroom Village 131, or call (310) 243-2486.
Confidential support is also available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or by texting “START” to 88788.