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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

President's Wednesday Message


Tomorrow, October 20th, the Civility Committee and Campus Activities Board are partnering to turn MCC purple to “Shine the Light” on domestic violence. Purple is the symbolic color for Domestic Violence Awareness, and October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. “Shine the Light” is a state-wide campaign coordinated by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (NYSOPDV) that seeks to raise awareness about domestic violence by turning state buildings purple throughout the month. Campus entrance signs on East Henrietta Road, Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road, and the MCC sign visible from I-390 will be illuminated in purple light this week.

The message is simple but powerful: together we can let victims and survivors know that they are not alone. While the light is symbolic, the effort is not: the goal is to share information about available resources and work to eradicate domestic violence in our community. And, we have work to do. In Monroe County annually, almost 5,000 domestic violence reports are made, and County 911 receives almost 50,000 calls it classifies as domestic incidents –- as often in the suburbs as in the city. The magnitude of these numbers suggests that you likely know someone who has been or is in an abusive relationship, but too often, this violence remains hidden, invisible. We need to Shine The Light.

Thanks to the leadership of the Civility Committee and CAB, this year, MCC has a full slate of activities in the Brighton Main Dining Area from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm this Thursday to promote awareness of and solutions to domestic violence, including:

* Free “Shine the Light” shirts for the first 200 people to take the “These Hands Don’t Hurt” pledge.

* Information tables from community partners: Willow Center for Domestic Violence, The Legal Aid Society – Domestic Violence Program, RESOLVE of Greater Rochester, and RESTORE Sexual Assault Services.

* Information about MCC’s Mentors in Violence Prevention program.

* The opportunity to donate *new* men’s and women’s flip flops (all sizes) to the Willow Domestic Violence Center Wish List.

* And, in the Flynn Campus Center Atrium, we will feature “13 Stories: Why I Stayed and Why I Left,” narratives from survivors of domestic violence.

In addition, we will offer two presentations on Thursday, one at noon on Healthy Relationships, presented by Willow Domestic Violence Center in the Main Dining Area; and a second for our residence hall students later that evening. Later in the month, the Honorable Women’s Club at the Damon City Campus is sponsoring “Stomp Out Domestic Violence.” The event will feature a Willow Center representative discussing healthy relationships, domestic violence and available resources. Professor Christine Plumeri will share information about the Mentors in Violence Prevention program. Look for this programming Monday, October 31, noon to 1:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room (4013) at DCC.

The most important takeaway from this month’s events is information –- for a friend, colleague, student, or even yourself.  

*  If danger is imminent, call 911.

* If it is not, call the Willow Domestic Violence Center 24-Hour hotline to speak to a Willow Advocate who will connect you with services: (585) 222-SAFE (7233). All services are free and confidential.

* On campus, students can connect with MCC Health Services or Counseling Services, and anyone can report an incident of domestic violence or dating violence to Public Safety and/or a Title IX Officer. Learn about resources and reporting options here.

Tomorrow, I hope you will wear purple, share photos of MCC going purple with the hashtag #ShineTheLight and tag @NYSOPDV, and attend one or more of the activities. The Civility Committee is interested in how it can continue this education process beyond this week. If you have thoughts, please share them in the comments section of the blog.

Anne M. Kress
Office of the President
10/19/2016