DAILY LOBO new mexico
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Thursday, O c tober 25 , 2018 | Vo l u m e 1 2 3 | I s s u e 2 1
The purpose behind the purple By Madison Spratto @Madi_Spratto There’s a purpose behind the purple today. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in recognition of that LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center asked the University of New Mexico campus to wear purple today. It also happens to be the day of observance and all around the country communities are partaking in “Purple Thursday.” Linda Lindquist, director of LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, said
Purple Thursday is a chance for the campus to observe and show solidarity in awareness of domestic and intimate relationship violence. Lindquist said domestic violence is often associated with things seen on TV, but more often than this there are instances that are under the radar. On-campus resources for people in an abusive relationship include the Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) and three confidential reporting locations: the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, the Women’s Resource Center and the LGBTQ Resource Center.
Colton Newman/ @cnewman101/ Daily Lobo
LoboRESPECT is asking everyone to wear the color purple Thursday, Oct. 25, to show support in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
After visiting a resource center, Lindquist said the next step would be to connect someone through the Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), a local organization focusing on the prevention, intervention, and recovery services for victims of domestic violence, according to the DVRC website. Lindquist said each resource center has their own level of expertise, and the DVRC trains their staff specifically in domestic violence work. One aspect of receiving help for an abusive relationship includes a safety plan, which Lindquist said is like an “emergency evacuation plan” and is a crucial piece in leaving an abusive partner. Some signs of an abusive relationship to look out for are isolation, signs of physical abuse, change in behavior, feelings of being stalked, coercive behavior, name-calling and emotional abuse, Lindquist said. When addressing how to help someone who may be in an abusive relationship, Lindquist said, “Just letting people know you see them and that you’re there for them, and that acknowledgment is really important, but also holding that space and understanding getting out of those relationships is not simple.” Madison Spratto is the news editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Madi_Spratto.
WRC hosts program to prevent gendered violence
Colton Newman/ @cnewman101/ Daily Lobo
A woman walks out of the Women’s Resource Center on the evening of Oct. 24, 2018.
By Megan Holmen @megan_holmen The University of New Mexico Women’s Resource Center (WRC) supports the UNM community in a variety of services, including the Gendered Violence Prevention Program. According to WRC Outreach Specialist Caitlin Henke, the Gendered Violence Prevention Program focuses on both sexual violence awareness and prevention, in addition to bystander training.
According to the WRC website, “The Gendered Violence Prevention Program trainers have presented to Res Life, the Greek Community, Athletics, CEP, New Student Orientation, LoboRESPECT Student Leaders and advisors. Trainers have trained students and staff within our new Peer Educator Model.” Reina Davis, the outreach coordinator for WRC, said the program was established in 2013 by the first author of “The Grey Area” training, an online training that UNM re-
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SHAC offers free STI testing for students Grey Area By Anthony Jackson @TonyAnjackson Students at the University of New Mexico can stay healthy and be sexually active thanks to an on campus resource — the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC). UNM’s SHAC services provide free sexually transmitted infection tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, offered twice a month on select Tuesdays — also known as STI Testing Tuesdays. Free HIV tests are also provided twice a month on select Thursdays. Tiffany Martinez-Durant, the program manager for SHAC, said students need to register online through the UNM SHAC Health Portal to create an appointment. There are no walk-ins on this first come, first serve basis. “These get booked pretty fast — the next available appointment found is on 11/27,” Martinez-Durant said. Martinez-Durant said if students cannot get an appointment on STI Testing Tuesdays, they can set up an appointment for a complete test of sexually transmitted infections. However, the full panel test is not free. She added that how often a person should get tested varies, but ideally students should get tested before and after every new partner. “You don’t have to be sick —
File Photo/ Colton Newman/ @cnewman101/ Daily Lobo
A note is posted on a door at the LGBTQ Resource Center indicated that a Sexually Transmitted Disease test is taking place.
you don’t have to feel symptoms to get tested,” Martinez-Durant said. “Prevention is prevention for a reason.” Martinez-Durant said the best defense against STI’s is to use protection, such as condoms and other barrier protections, but there is always a risk. According to 2017 data from the New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico is leading the nation in rates of chlamydia with 645 cases per 100,000 people, compared to the U.S.’ rate of 529 per 100,000 people. In 2017, New Mexico ranked fourth in the nation for
chlamydia and the age group most affected were individuals between 20 to 24 years old followed by 15 to 19 year olds. New Mexican cases of gonorrhea also surpassed the national rate at 214 cases per 100,000 people compared to the U.S.’ rate of 172 cases per 100,000 people. The report also found individuals 20 to 24 years old were the likeliest age group to contract gonorrhea. In 2017 New Mexico ranked 10th in the nation for gonorrhea. In both studies, the report found that males and minorities are more likely to contract either STI. According to the Center for
Disease Control and Protection (CDC), chlamydia and gonorrhea are asymptomatic — meaning infected persons may display no symptoms. However, symptoms for chlamydia can appear weeks after unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. Symptoms in women can include abnormal vaginal discharge and burning sensation when urinating. Symptoms in men can include a discharge from their penis a burning sensation when urinating, and pain and swelling in one or both testicles. Men and women can experience symptoms of chlamydia in the rectum. Symptoms include pain, bleeding and discharge from the rectum. If left untreated in men or women, chlamydia can cause infertility. Like chlamydia, the CDC reports that gonorrhea can also do harm if left unchecked. Men with gonorrhea can experience a burning sensation when urinating, a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis, and painful or swollen testicles (although this is less common). Symptoms in women can experience: painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge and vaginal bleeding between periods. And men and women can
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trainings after two years By Danielle Prokop @ProkopDani
It’s been two years since “Grey Area Training” became mandatory at the University of New Mexico, and a few changes are expanding the program to more students. A two-year report compiled by the University on the program showed between March and Oct. in 2017 there were 76 undergraduate training sessions completed and 13,982 undergraduates were trained. There are now additional models for graduate and professional students. In 2016, UNM entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice after a two-year investigation into University practices of documenting and investigating reports of sexual harassment and assault. UNM was one of a few universities under investigation.
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