CNU joins campaign to help stop abusive relationships

News Release - Oct. 25, 2006

Media Contact:
Karen L. Gill
Office of Communications and Public Relations
(757) 594-8428

(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) — Christopher Newport University is one of 10 Virginia colleges and universities participating in a statewide initiative meant to help students identify the signs of abusive relationships.

As part of the Red Flag Campaign, sponsored by Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, CNU received 300 double-sided, large posters with six different images that outline red flags to abusive relationships, such as coercion, sexual assault, isolation, jealousy, emotional abuse, and victim blaming. The posters were placed in residence halls and throughout campus for the month of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

CNU students were surveyed before the posters were displayed, and they will be surveyed after exposure to the posters to determine whether there is change in their behaviors, attitudes or knowledge regarding the red flags of abusive relationships. The data will be used for future programs, according to Kelly Franzone, assistant director of CNU’s Center for Counseling, Coaching and Consulting.

The campaign was the result of the combined work of students, faculty and victim advocates from nearly 20 colleges and universities across Virginia. It is sponsored by The Verizon Foundation. The Red Flag Campaign will launch officially in August 2007 to 20 additional campuses in Virginia.

For more information, visit www.TheRedFlagCampaign.org or http://www.ncadv.org/.