Prevention and Support Resources

Preventing Assault & Violence through Education (PAVE) @ MC

This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-WA-AX-0006 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

This program is aimed at proactively addressing dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

Photo of Jessica White

Mrs. Jessica White

PAVE Director
Bartlett Hall Suite 102
(865) 981-8188
jessica.white@maryvillecollege.edu

Jessica oversees the implementation of the OVW grant including working with the peer educators, providing educational opportunities for all of campus, and coordinating support services. Jessica is a confidential resource so any student, staff, or faculty member can always come get more information.

 

Resources

Healthy Relationships

            Often romantic relationships seem like the point of a discussion on healthy relationships. But healthy relationships should include ALL relationships, such as friends, roommates, family, and classmates. By practicing healthy relationships in all aspects of our lives, we can normalize healthy behavior and recognize red flags more quickly. It’s important to note that the signs of power and control can pop up in any relationship, regardless of age, gender identity, race, socioeconomic status, or sexuality.

Healthy

A healthy relationship means both you and your partner are:

  • communicating
  • respectful
  • trusting
  • honest
  • equal
  • enjoying personal time away from each other
  • making mutual choices
  • economic/financial partners

Unhealthy

You may be in an unhealthy relationship if you or your partner are:

  • not communicating
  • disrespectful
  • not trusting
  • dishonest
  • trying to take control
  • only spending time together
  • pressured into activities
  • unequal economically

Abusive

Abuse is occurring in a relationship when one partner is:

  • communicating in a hurtful or threatening way
  • mistrusting
  • accusing the other of cheating when it’s untrue
  • denying their actions are abusive
  • controlling
  • isolating their partner from others
 

Dating Violence and Domestic Violence

Dating abuse is a pattern of coercive, intimidating, or manipulative behaviors used to exert power and control over a partner. While we define dating violence as a pattern, that doesn’t mean the first instance of abuse isn’t also dating violence; we simply recognize that dating violence tends to involve a series of abusive behaviors over a course of time.

The relationship spectrum, shows a gradient vertical line with relationship characteristics along it from top to bottom. All the text follows the image on the page

The relationship spectrum

All relationships exist on a spectrum from healthy to abusive, with unhealthy somewhere in the middle. At the top of the spectrum, healthy relationships are based on equality and respect. You make decisions together and can openly discuss whatever you’re dealing with, like relationship problems and sexual choices. You enjoy spending time together but can be happy apart. Bulleted characteristics of healthy relationships follow, respect, good communication, trust, honest, equality.

Below that on the spectrum, unhealthy relationships are based on attempts to control the other person. One person tries to make most of the decisions. He or she may pressure their partner about sex or refuse to see how their actions can hurt. In an unhealthy relationship, you feel like you should only spend time with your partner. Bulleted  characteristics of an unhealthy relationship follow, breaks in communication, pressure, dishonesty, struggles for control, inconsiderate behavior.

At the bottom of the spectrum, abusive relationships are based on an imbalance of power and control. One person is making all the decisions about sexual choices, friend groups, boundaries, even what’s true and what’s not. You spend all of your time together and feel like you can’t talk to other people, especially about what’s really happening in your relationship. Bulleted characteristics of abusive relationships, accusations, blame shifting, isolation pressure, manipulation.

 

Other Resources

Workshop/Program Requests

 

Peer Educators

The MC Peer Educators are undergraduate students who are passionate about creating a healthier MC community. They educate their fellow students about health and wellness, specifically focused on relationships. The peers are trained to provide programs. host events, and have low-key conversations throughout the year around the following focus areas:

  • Interpersonal Wellness
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Sexual Health Promotion
  • Consent and boundaries

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Coordinated Community Response Team

The CCRT is a group of faculty and staff who are dedicated to doing what it takes to end domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

Prevention, Intervention, Training, and Postvention