The Utica College Safe Trax program is holding its Hygiene Product Drive throughout October. With bins placed throughout campus, donations of razors, deodorants, menstrual products and more are encouraged. 

This event is part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which has occurred annually since 1981, and is also meant to help connect students with available resources. 

The drive was created to help victims of sexual violence and domestic violence. The items collected are intended to directly help survivors. 

Many victims of domestic violence and other crimes often leave their living situations with very few items and typically with only what they can carry for themselves, their children or pets, Safe Trax Coordinator Jennifer Jones said.

“This creates a need for basic items that can be costly for someone starting out on their own,” she said. “A program or agency having hygiene items on hand can alleviate some financial burden. It is also a great way for the community to donate fairly low-cost items that can make a big impact.”

The majority of the donations will go to the YWCA of Mohawk Valley, although some of them will be kept at the Safe Trax Program, located in 103 Strebel Student Center, for students in need. 

There are other organizations that spread awareness about domestic violence, including the Womyn’s Resource Center, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the Inter Greek Council and the YWCA. Some of these organizations are part of the Purple Ribbon Campaign, which will be tabling at various locations around campus, including Strebel Student Center and White Hall.

“At the table, there are ribbons to hand out [to] students, faculty and staff,” said Lindsey Rasmussen, president of IGC. “And if they want, they can donate to domestic violence awareness.” 

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, there are some common signs of abusive behavior in relationships such as intimidation with violence or destruction of property; controlling behavior, such as excluding their partner from finances, forcing them to make certain decisions or dictating who their partner can and cannot spend time with; insulting their partner or pressuring their partner into sexual acts or using alcohol or drugs. 

The hotline encourages those seeking help to create a plan that will allow them to leave their situations safely and provides a variety of resources to do so. 

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month isn’t just to raise awareness of how prevalent domestic violence is, but to try and develop better support systems for victims of domestic violence so they can exit those situations in a way that doesn’t cause more harm to them,” said Peter Gaughan, administrative intern for the Womyn’s Resource Center and president of the Student Government Association. 

There are resources available to UC students should the need for them arise. Residential students can talk to resident assistants who will direct them to the UC Wellness Center and connect them with Lisa Green, the Title IX coordinator at Utica College. The Womyn’s Resource Center will also connect students to Green to begin the Title IX process. 

All information shared is confidential and students do not have to begin the Title IX process unless they decide to.