The Phoenix Center at Auraria is a new organization on campus located in the Tivoli. Their outlined purpose is to provide around the clock confidential assistance to survivors of all types of interpersonal violence: sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence. The program’s aim is to raise awareness about the subject and prevent any future interpersonal violence.
The organization started when representatives from all three campuses and the Area Health Education Center received a grant from the Justice Department for $500,000, which is allocated over the course of three years.
The Center offers services such as a 24/7 helpline that’s staffed by faculty, students, and volunteers. Operators at the helpline undergo a 40-hour training period before they’re certified to offer emotional support to callers.
Violence Prevention Educator and helpline operator Andra Lowe said, “We’re doing a lot of tabling events to let people know who we are, and that we’re here.”
The Center is expanding its reach by working closely with the student-housing communities at Auraria. The goal is to make students more aware of their options for interpersonal violence prevention, while providing students with access to those resources.
Victim Services Coordinator Aneesha Bharwani said, “We’re also doing presentations for classrooms, faculty groups, and student groups about interpersonal violence.”
The Center is also working to straighten out their policies so that everything is cohesive between all three institutions on campus.
“It’s not necessarily trouble right now, but this will be the first time people are really taking a critical look at interpersonal violence together,” said Bharwani.
This organization works hard to bring speakers to campus and provide public educational events.
On October 6, there will be a screening of “Twilight” in which the Center’s representatives will facilitate a discussion on how women are portrayed in media.
On October 28 and October 29, they will also be holding the annual “Love, Sex, Lies” event. Students from all three institutions are welcome to come and take a short survey about relationships.
“It’s more of an education and awareness event about dating violence,” said Bharwani.
The Center will also be launching a Bystanders Intervention Campaign in the near future.
“We plan to educate people on how the average person witnessing an act of interpersonal violence can intervene without getting physically involved, or merely walking away,” said Bharwani.
For more information, please contact the Phoenix Center’s Helpline at 303-556-CALL (2255) Walk-in appointments are also available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
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