Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – Oct. 3, 2025 – The Office of Institutional Integrity and Title IX is hosting a series of events on campus at Arkansas State University for Dating and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is acknowledged in October.  
 
The first event will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, on the first floor of the Reng Student Union. At this event, participants will be able to write love letters to themselves or letters of affirmation for others.  

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, a Title IX Trivia tabling event will take place on the first floor of Reng Student Union. During this event, which will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., students will be able to spin a trivia wheel and answer questions about Title IX.   
 
The Art Heals and Open Mic Event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8. At this event, members of the community are invited to view an art exhibition by students and community members in Centennial Hall of the student union.  
 
Various departments will host interactive activities and the Red WOLF Center will host DJ King Vick, who will provide music. Refreshments will be provided by the Division of Access and Institutional Engagement.

From 5 until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, the campus community and the surrounding community are invited to participate in Purple Shirt Thursday and a Candlelight Vigil on Heritage Plaza Lawn.  
 
“We are encouraging people to wear purple to show their support for dating and domestic violence survivors,” said Kelly Sabin, Title IX investigator.  
 
“We will be joined at the event by our partners with the Family Crisis Center. The clock tower of Dean B. Ellis Library will be lighted purple to show survivors that they are not alone.” 

To help provide tools so that members of the A-State community know how to protect themselves, a self-defense course will be offered at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, in the Red WOLF Center. Students will get the chance to learn self-defense techniques from the A-State Jiu-Jitsu Club.

Dr. Stacy Dewald, assistant professor of criminology, shared some of the reasons why events like this one are important. 

“This session is about building confidence and skills to protect yourself. The responsibility to end violence lies with offenders, but everyone deserves to learn tools to feel safe,” said Dewald, Title IX Prevention and Planning Committee.  

To learn more, one may contact the Office of Institutional Integrity and Title IX at title9@AState.edu or by calling 870-972-2015.