Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Advocacy

Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Advocacy

What is Interpersonal Violence?

Interpersonal Violence is when a person attempts to have power and control over another.  The abuse can occur through the use or threat of physical, sexual, or emotional violence, economic control, isolation, or other kinds of coercive behavior.  At the Women's Resource Center, our services focus on domestic violence and sexual assault, but we can assist students facing other types of violence in obtaining the services they need.

Our Interpersonal Violence FAQ has more information related to sexual assault and domestic violence and what to do if you or someone you know needs help; also see the Interpersonal Violence Links sidebar.

 

Interpersonal Violence Advocacy

Our Interpersonal Violence Advocate is available to answer questions or work with students dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence.  As an interpersonal violence advocate, they are here to:

  • Provide crisis intervention, support, information, and referrals to the victim.
  • Serve as a liaison between the victim and professional agencies and departments.
  • Ensure that the survivor understands the systems in which she finds herself, including the roles and objectives of each agency and individuals involved in her response.
  • Provide non-judgmental information to the victim regarding options.
  • Provide educational information and resource materials on interpersonal violence.
  • Advocate on behalf of the survivor’s self-defined needs, decisions, wishes, questions, or concerns.
  • Assist the victim with accessing and understanding University policy and university and community resources and services.
  • Provide information to the victim on the dynamics of interpersonal violence, including victim-blaming and trauma.
  • Provide hospital/medical and/or court accompaniment.

WRC Interpersonal Violence Advocate

The coordinator of the Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Advocacy program at the WRC can be reached by phone at 503-725-5605 or through email at ipv@pdx.edu. To schedule an appointment with our advocate, please call 503-725-5672.

If this is an emergency and you need immediate assistance, please call Campus Public Safety at 503-725-4404, or 911.  If you need to talk to someone about a domestic violence or sexual assault situation outside of WRC office hours, please call the Portland Women’s Crisis Line at 503-235-5333 or toll free at 888-235-5333. 

For a listing of campus and community resources related to sexual assault and domestic violence, please go here.

 

Interpersonal Violence Education and Prevention

 

Healthy Relationships Discussion Group

How do I deal with conflict? Is this healthy or abusive? What is the difference between monogamy and polyamory? Is this Normal?

Have questions? In a relationship? Dating? Single? Curious? Questioning? This new peer support group will discuss boundaries, healthy vs. unhealthy dynamics in our relationships, communication styles, and positive conflict. Open to all genders and sexualities!

Fridays starting April 3 from noon-1pm in the QRC (SMSU 401). Questions? Call or e-mail Adrienne Graf ipv@pdx.edu or 503-725-5605.

 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

SAAM Double Feature Film Night - April 8

Two Carol Leigh films about the sex industry and sex workers will be shown with a discussion afterwards. These films are especially critical during Sexual Assault awareness month, specifically "Sex Workers Take Back the Night", to discuss exclusion and controversy in the history of Take Back the Night. Wednesday, April 8th at 7pm in the WRC.

"Outlaw Poverty, Not Prostitutes" is a documentary by Carol Leigh (aka Scarlot the Harlot) of the 1989 World Whore's Summit in San Francisco. This film features short interviews and with many different activists and sex workers who discuss sex work and issues of global human rights.

"Sex Workers Take Back the Night" is Leigh's coverage of a Take Back the Night march in San Francisco in December 1990 "staged in remembrance of the fourteen female college students murdered in the previous year's Montreal Massacre. Clashes and controversy emerge between sex-workers and anti-porn feminists about sex, violence and men- with an emphasis on the perspectives of strippers and sexual rights activists. An excellent feminist discussion piece.

"Drunk Sex" - April 16

“Drunk Sex”, produced by Act for Action, is a performance that focuses on sexual assault in a college setting. The play explores the relationship of drugs and alcohol to acquaintance rape, the role of the “bystander” in preventing sexual assault and the pervasiveness of victim blaming following an assault. Audience members will be invited to interact with the performance and develop solutions to the problem of sexual assault on college campuses. Thursday, April 16th from 4-6 pm in SMSU 238.

Take Back the Night - April 23

We invite you to become part of the solution, part of the end to sexual violence. Here is a place to take a stand, a place to break the silence. Here we can Take Back the Night! This event will include an inter-faith vigil, march and close with an empowering and unifying rally.

Who: Portland State University – Women's Resource Center
What: An event to address issues of sexual violence
Where: Portland State University – South Park Blocks
When: April 23, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Contact: Adrienne or Erin at ipv@pdx.edu
Sponsored by: The Women's Resource Center at PSU

Don't forget to join Portland Women's Crisis Line for the Bike Back the Night kick-off event! Bike Back the Night starts at Col. Sumner Park (SE 18th between Taylor & Belmont) and ends at PSU Park Blocks. Check-in & activities at 4:30, Ride at 6:00 sharp. Visit the PWCL website for more details.