It’s currently Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an issue that has recently become a popular topic of conversation across the country and in our own community. Penn State’s chapter of Sisters on the Runway released an emotional video Wednesday that adds an entirely new perspective to the issue.

SOTR aimed to utilize the power of today’s technology to reach its audience more effectively. Creating a video campaign to share these stories allowed the group to connect with the community on a personal level.

“As the millennial generation continues to grow, social media and technology have become more and more popular,” said SOTR president Layla Taremi. “We thought a video campaign would be exciting.”

SOTR compiled stories from various students across campus that delve into instances of domestic violence in their lives. The video, titled “The Reality of Domestic Violence,” shows other student volunteers reading each of these stories out loud. Though anonymous, the video gave these student victims the voice they needed to finally speak out about this devastating issue. With no background music and only a brief introduction, the video and its message are transparent.

“We thought it was extremely important to collect real, true stories from Penn State students to ensure people can relate to the incidents,” Taremi said.

SOTR is committed to both raising awareness about domestic violence and preventing it from ever happening in the first place. The organization holds various fundraisers throughout the year in order to raise money for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, including the annual events Walk a Mile in Her Shoes and the 2017 SOTR Fashion show.

Check out the impactful video below: