For national domestic violence awareness month, the Penn State Gender Equity Center and the Centre County Women’s Resource Center are again joining forces to increase the visibility of the universal nature of domestic violence. To do this, they have organized events for the students and community so that they can both learn more about domestic violence prevention and stand by survivors.

Programming coordinator for the Gender Equity Center, Jennifer Pencek, hopes to help allow students to think critically about domestic violence through these planned events.

“By incorporating visual displays to honor and remember those impacted by domestic violence to Dr. Jill Biden serving as our keynote speaker for the month, we encourage people to participate in as many events as they can to not just learn more, but also to show those around us that we support survivors,” Pencek said.

The event “Empty Place at the Table” kicked off the month’s events on October 7 at the Super Fair of Centre County. Dr. Jill Biden will speak to students on October 10 at 8 p.m. in Eisenhower Auditorium. Although the event is free courtesy of SPA, tickets are required. To get tickets go to studentaffairs.psu.edu/genderequity.

Additionally, October 19 will serve as “Wear Purple Day,” since purple is the color that represents domestic violence month.

Other events throughout the month include “The Clothesline Project” during the week of October 23 in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, as well as “Light the Night,” which will take place October 26 at 7 p.m. on Old Main Lawn to honor domestic violence survivors.