OTC is located in the most beautiful part of the state, but not everything about southwest Missouri is pretty. Greene County has one of the highest rates of domestic violence per capita than anywhere else in Missouri, and OTC students are not immune. In 2018, a Victim Advocate was hired through the grant, Project HEAL, to provide support and guidance to victims on OTC campus. In the 2018-2019 academic year, the Project HEAL Victim Advocate received reports of 93 students being affected by interpersonal violence. This academic year, 25 reports have been received – that’s well over four per week.
Sometimes, students voluntarily report that they are experiencing violence. Other times, an instructor or classmate notices physical signs of abuse or prolonged absences and makes the report so that OTC can intervene. College-led interventions may include safety escorts, counseling services, monitoring campus for identified aggressors, and advocating on the students’ behalf with faculty and staff. The Project HEAL Victim Advocate is a confidential resource on campus who helps victims connect to campus and community resources in order to navigate life after traumatic events.
This month, in partnership with Harmony House, OTC will offer informative events and trainings to raise awareness of intimate partner violence, and to encourage everyone in the OTC family to watch out for each other.
Check out the events at the Springfield campus below, and make plans to attend iCare Week. Together, we can keep OTC safe.
iCare Information Booth
Monday, Oct. 21 – Friday, Oct. 25
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Information Commons, Jared Family Atrium – Springfield Campus
Stop by the iCare booth in the Jared Atrium to learn more about identifying and responding to domestic/intimate partner violence. Donate an item from Harmony House’s Urgent Needs List or make a small monetary donation. Bring your receipt by the iCare booth to receive your “black eye sticker” and wear it in solidarity with local domestic violence survivors on Friday, Oct. 25. Urgent needs include:
- Laundry Pods
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Quart Size Ziploc Bags
- Women and Men’s Razors
- Pack n Play
For the full list of needed items, click here.
The Clothesline Project
Wednesday, Oct. 23
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Information Commons, Jared Family Atrium – Springfield Campus
The Clothesline Project offers members of our OTC community who have experienced relationship violence or who know someone affected by relationship violence an opportunity to express themselves through art. The first 75 participants will be given a t-shirt and art materials to decorate a shirt. All shirts will be hung on a clothesline in the atrium to be viewed by others as a testimony to the problem of relationship violence.
iCare “Black Eye” Public Awareness Event
Friday, Oct. 25
All day
Everywhere in Springfield
Join people throughout the community who will be taking the “iCare” pledge by wearing a symbolic black eye to raise awareness of the domestic violence problem in our community.
Green Dot Bystander Intervention Certification Training
Friday, November 8
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (lunch is provided)
Information Commons West, Room 108C – Springfield Campus
This hands-on, interactive event not only introduces the Green Dot approach to preventing power-based personal violence, but also equips participants with the practical skills and resources to identify, intervene and prevent incidences of sexual or interpersonal violence. The Bystander Certification Training session is open to students, faculty and staff and will include free catered lunch, t-shirts and prizes.
Have more questions? For more information or to connect to the OTC Victim Advocate, contact Rachel Swadley at (417) 447-7859 or swadleyr@otc.edu.
If you or someone you know needs assistance with issues ranging from class absenteeism to threats of self-harm or harm to others, contact OTCCares. This resource was established to protect the health and safety of our college community. Maintaining a safe environment allows our students to focus on their education and get the most out of their college experience.