The Kennesaw State Department of Public Safety and the KSU Police Department hosted a safety-oriented relationship awareness session at the “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” event at University Village on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Scenarios detailed at the event included stalking, emotional abuse and verbal abuse. One goal of the event was for both potential victims and perpetrators of toxic behaviors to recognize those forms of abuse, according to the event pamphlet. Examples of these behaviors include unwanted phone calls or texts, making a partner feel guilty or immature and fear of retaliation for their actions.
Another goal was to teach people the qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The event served to increase individual self-awareness and public safety and to inform participants on resources available if they or someone else is in a dangerous situation.
Students then took tests to gauge the health of their relationship or the quality of their self-care. Surveys and Likert scales posed questions involving specific situations that a person may have experienced in an abusive relationship.
The survey asked questions such as, “Do I tell my partner they are the reason for my bad mood even if they aren’t?” The Likert-Scale posed statements like, “I spend time with people who make me happy,” and had responders cite how often they do so.
Attendees then discussed their answers with KSUPD’s Sgt. Charles Dickens, Victim Services Coordinator Kelly Burkes and Victim Advocate Jessica Aguirre.
Senior information technology major Khalil Lawal said the event bolstered his self-awareness.
“I think when you are self-aware of something you can kind of spotlight different red flags not only about yourself but about other people,” Lawal said. “If I was more self-aware in my previous relationship, then … I would have probably been a lot better off.”
Lawal also mentioned that situational awareness can prevent a lot of conflicts. Such as realizing what triggers other people can help, and taking the time to think about how one reacts in an argument. He said these will be part of his new strategy for the future in relationships.
Freshman criminal justice major Xenia Collins was comforted by the assets available at KSU and said the event shed light on some personal situations for her.
“If you’re in an abusive relationship, they actually have resources here that can help you,” Collins said. “You can keep that confidential, yet still get the help that you need. I had some family members who were in abusive relationships so it kind of helped me see the process that they might have gone through to get the help that they needed.”
The KSU DPS and KSUPD also host the Rape Aggression Defense class several times per month. These classes teach students how to disengage from physically violent situations. For more information, visit the KSUPD website.
