More than 50 students, faculty and staff clad in purple gathered at 12 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Columns in support of rape and sexual violence victims.
The Power in Purple event was designed by representatives of Westminster’s Remley Women & Gender Center to generate awareness and cap off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. October officially received the national designation in 1989.
Activities at Westminster’s event included creating comfort kits for those who receive services from Rape & Abuse Crisis Services (RACS), a shelter in Jefferson City, Missouri. Participants placed journals, pens, lip balm, fuzzy socks and inspirational cards with personalized messages into the kits.
Kim Lorentz, Executive Director of the Wellness Center, was on hand to answer questions and provide educational materials as well as lapel pins, stickers, beads and bandanas in purple — the official color associated worldwide with domestic violence survival.
Student groups participating in Remley’s event included members of the baseball, men’s wrestling and football teams.
Senior Cooper Thompson of the Blue Jays football team and Beta Theta Pi fraternity explained he is one of four men who are Remley members this year. Joining the organization came naturally to him because of the example set by his mother, who served as a domestic abuse advocate when she attended law school.
Bryce Schrader, also a senior and member of Beta Theta Pi, said he joined Remley because of his alumnae sisters, Erica ’22 and Kirsten ’25. “They went to school here and encouraged me, so I did it for them and to show my support to the women of my family.”
Both students attended the event to help with activities, which in addition to comfort kit creation included games such as cornhole, passing out homemade snacks and creating colorful sidewalk chalk art.
Remley director and event coordinator Dr. Kali Wright-Smith said the ultimate goal of the relaxed, casual event was to support both the local and Westminster community.
“Some students think that domestic violence doesn’t happen to younger people, but we know it happens, and some have experienced situations within their families,” Wright-Smith explained. “We want our students to have a little bit more understanding and to know what kinds of resources and support exists for victims.”
For more information on the Remley Women & Gender Center, please contact Kali.Wright-Smith@wcmo.edu.
Sarah Rummel Backer is the Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A proud Westminster graduate, Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications in the areas of higher education, medicine, agriculture, and the private business sector.
You must be logged in to post a comment.