By Noah Shoaf
A campaign centered on testimonies of love hit the BYU-Hawaii campus during the week of Oct. 1, aimed at ending the cycle of domestic and dating abuse.
“Yes we get angry and annoyed, but when you begin to see a cycle that repeats itself where you don't want this to be in the relationship, break the pattern, break the cycle,” said Sister Jane Beuhring, a senior missionary who serves at the Title IX office.
The "End the Cycle" week was created because BYUH Title IX, an organization on campus that seeks to create a healthy environment for all, produced a 10-minute video and they said they wanted an outlet to promote the video's message.
The week officially began with a campaign called, “Hands are made for..,” formally know as the Purple Hand Initiative. For this initiative, volunteers painted students hands purple at various booths around campus. With their purple hands, students created an imprint and wrote on them what hands are made to do. Some people said their hands were made for serving, loving, and caring.
Video By Kelsy Simmons
Earl “Torch” Morris, director of campus security, spoke at a forum aimed at preventing abuse on Oct. 2 in the Aloha Center. He said lived in a home where his father was abusive. Even though Morris left the abusive environment when he was 16, the effects of his father’s abuse still influence his actions. Morris posed the question during his forum,
“Are you the guiding light that helps break the cycle or are you a part of the cycle?”
It was “Purple Day” for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Oct. 3. To spread awareness on how common abuse can be, people wear the color purple. Amelia King, a senior from Tonga majoring in social work, said her goal this week was to have everyone be aware of abuse and realize it needs to stop.
King works for BYUH Counseling and Disability Services, so she was able to help at the various activities like the family movie night on Oct. 3 at the Stake Center. At the family movie night, TVA families were invited to a night of food, prizes, and awareness. Before the movie, the “End the Cycle” video was shown.
King said abuse is an issue within the Polynesian culture but she and her husband were determined to break the cycle and not allow abuse in her home. She also expressed how important this week was because abuse affected her personally.
“I witnessed something here on campus that happened to my best friend. Her boyfriend was abusing her and I saw it. It was a big shock.”
On Oct. 4, there was an “End the Cycle” panel. David Whippy, a visiting faculty for the International Cultural Studies Peacebuilding program at BYU-Hawaii, addressed students and faculty about how abuse is justified in society today.
Video By Kelsy Simmons
Finally, the End the Cycle week ended with a joint effort from Title IX and Seasider Sports and Activities. They hosted a "Dive in" movie night at the pool and before the movie volunteers from Title IX showed the “End the Cycle” video.
Emi Wainwright, a senior from Florida majoring in psychology, volunteered for Title IX at the pool party. She explained how impactful the night was.
“We did a raffle and gave out prizes. We talked to people about Title IX, and there were a couple of students that didn’t even know what it was. I think this week was really important because we spread awareness about abuse and promoted Title IX.”