Longwood has hosted the Red Flag Campaign since fall of 2008, making the event held during the week of Oct. 17-21 the ninth year the campus has seen the campaign. The campaign partners with the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance in regard to sexual and intimate partner violence on college campuses, according to the Red Flag Campaign website.
A rally for the campaign took place Monday, Oct. 17 behind the Lankford Student Union that hosted food and beverages, music and information on sexual misconduct on college campuses from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Donations for Madeline’s House, A Domestic Violence Safe House, were accepted as well.
In addition to the rally there was also a “Let’s Talk…Seriously: The Red Line” on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. that hosted a more intimate environment with those in attendance to voice their opinions and feelings on the matter.
Sponsors for the campaign at Longwood include Student Conduct & Integrity, Phi Beta Sigma and Madeline’s house.
The Red Flag Campaign launched in Virginia in 2007 and has since spread to 400 college campuses, military bases and academies and community-based advocacy agencies in 48 states, according to the Red Flag Campaign website.
“Red flags represent warning signs, things we should look for in our relationships and in our friends that signify an unhealthy relationship,” said Sasha Johnson, education and prevention coordinator for student conduct & integrity who also is in charge or the Red Flag Campaign at Longwood.
Both Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Kappa Alpha were involved in this year’s event, according to Johnson.
Phi Beta Sigma raised funds for Madeline’s House on Oct. 19 behind the Lankford Student Union by completing over 900 pushups, according to Madeline’s House page.
Dr. Carl Riden, associate professor of sociology, has been involved every year, according to Johnson. Dr. David Magill, associate professor of literatures of diversity, got involved this year and Dr. Naomi Johnson, associate professor in the department of communication, was not involved this year but had been in years past, according to Johnson.
“We (Longwood) were one of the first campuses to actually participate and every year we just try to make it better and do something different, get student input and student ideas and what they want to do,” said Johnson.
Johnson described the planning process as each year having a student that “emerges as a leader” and this year was Ashtyn Clark, a sophomore Social Work major.
“This year she (Ashtyn) was the shining light, Ashtyn was very passionate about the red flag campaign and asked us if she could volunteer and she has been a tremendous help all the way through,” said Johnson.
Clark spoke on Monday, Oct. 17 in regard to “how Longwood students can be active bystanders in preventing dating violence in their friends' relationships”.
“I think it's more powerful coming from a student to show I’m just like them,” said Clark.
Clark’s role in the red flag campaign at Longwood involved running the social media pages for the event on Instagram and Twitter. Clark felt it was refreshing for students to see a social media post that was different than what they were used to seeing.
“Awareness, that’s my goal,” said Clark.
The music for the rally was provided by WMLU, and the brochures that were passed out were provided by Peer Health Educators. In addition, to support Longwood University, Barnes and Noble provided items and gift cards to raffle off, according to Johnson.
“I don’t want to pressure anyone, I want to emphasize that you know everyone’s not ready to talk about it, I understand that, I’m a survivor myself,” said Johnson.
Johnson added that after the campaign is hosted at Longwood they will be sending out evaluations to students looking for feedback and see if “this has changed behaviors” or added to beliefs.
Little red flags were placed in front of the Dining Hall to help spread awareness of abusive relationships.
Little red flags were placed in front of the Dining Hall to help spread awareness of abusive relationships.
