Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, in association with Sex Out Loud and the Multicultural Student Center, held a student discussion about relationship issues including dating violence and diverse relationship conduct Thursday.
PAVE Campus Outreach Coordinator Olivia Jonynas said the goal of the event was to educate and establish an open atmosphere and highlight the campus' diverse opinions on race, dating violence, religion and sexual orientation.
""What we wanted to do with this is create a kind of open discussion on healthy relationships, dating on campus and kind of bring to the forefront specific issues on dating abuse and different areas of where people are comfortable,"" Jonynas said.
The event focused on questions such as if a student would date someone who is bisexual, what constitutes cheating, and what represents a healthy relationship through a video presentation, group activities and an open discussion.
""Highlighting the differences on campus, the difference of individuals and different people's boundaries. And just creating an open way for people to talk,"" Jonynas said on the goal of the discussion.
With approximately 40 students in attendance, the group collaborators all agreed the event was a success.
""I think it was a good turnout, people were willing to voice their opinions. I think it was definitely a successful program,"" Sex Out Loud program facilitator Mary Kouba said.
—Tessa Hahn
