Undoubtedly, OTC is located in the most beautiful part of the state, but not everything about southwest Missouri is pretty. Greene County has more domestic violence per capita than anywhere else in Missouri, and OTC students are not immune. In the 2017-2018 academic year, the college received reports of 64 students being affected by intimate partner violence. So far this academic year, 21 reports have been received – that’s well over one per week.
Sometimes, students voluntarily report that they are experiencing violence and seek out help and resources from the college. Other times, an instructor or classmate notices physical signs of abuse or prolonged absences and makes the report so that OTC can intervene. Assistance provided by the college includes safety escorts, counseling services, monitoring campus for identified aggressors, and advocating on the students’ behalf with faculty and staff. Recently, a Victim Advocate was hired through a grant-funded partnership with Missouri State University to provide support and guidance to victims on OTC campus. The Victim Advocate, does not provide counseling for victims, but rather helps connect them to campus and community resources in order to navigate life after traumatic events.
This week, in partnership with Harmony House, OTC will offer informative events and training workshops 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. Let’s keep OTC safe.
iCare Information Booth
Monday, Oct. 22 – Friday, Oct. 26
10 a.m. to 4 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 donation to Harmony House and receive your “black eye sticker” to wear in solidarity with local domestic violence survivors on Friday, Oct. 26.
Urgent needs include the following items:
- Baby wipes, paper towels ß I will get an updated list from Harmony House at the end of September, too.
- 3-Ring pocket folders
- Allergy and upset stomach medicine
- Bath towels, washcloths, twin size comforters
- Liquid laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner
- 13 and 30-gallon trash bags, mops, brooms
- Deodorant, body wash, shampoo, hand soap with pump
- Paper cups, drinking straws, cleaning caddies
Green Dot Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 25
9-10 a.m.
Information Commons West, Room 216
Green Dot is a comprehensive approach to violence prevention that uses student leaders to affect positive cultural change from within the student body. The program seeks people to engage in proactive behaviors and reactive interventions in high-risk situations, with practical steps to intervene.
Green Dot Bystander Intervention Certification training
Friday, October 26
9 am to 2:30 p.m. (lunch is provided)
Information Commons West, Room 108C – Springfield Campus
This hands-on, interactive, full-day event not only introduces the Green Dot approach to preventing power-based personal violence, but equips participants with the practical skills and resources to identify, intervene and prevent incidence of sexual or interpersonal violence by identifying personal barriers and developing individual strategies for action. The Bystander Certification training is open to students, faculty and staff and will include free catered lunch, t-shirts and prizes.
iCare “Black Eye” Public Awareness Event
Friday, Oct. 26
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.
Have more questions?
For more information, contact Assistant Title IX Coordinator Autumn Porter at (417) 447-2686 or portera@otc.edu.
To connect with the OTC Victim Advocate, contact Rachel Swadley at (417) 447-7859 or swadleyr@otc.edu.
If you feel that you, or someone you know, needs assistance with issues ranging from class absenteeism to threats of self-harm or harm to others, contact OTCCares. OTCCares was established to protect the health and safety of our college community. Maintaining a safe environment allows students to focus on their education and get the most out of their time at the college.