SUNY Oswego event boosts awareness, prevention of relationship violence

SUNY Oswego students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, will walk to remember and to prevent domestic and dating violence during Yards for Yeardley, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, April 29.

This is the fourth year in a row the campus has embraced this program brought to universities by the One Love Foundation.

In 2016, SUNY Oswego was the first school in New York to complete the challenge of reaching one million yards. That the participation and the yards logged by participants continue to increase reflect generous support from the campus and community, said Lisa Evaneski, SUNY Oswego Title IX coordinator and event organizer.

“I think those millions of yards and the enthusiasm with which everybody embraces the event show that we don't want to lose anyone to domestic and dating violence,” said Evaneski. "It's an event that builds awareness on a serious issue, but it's also an uplifting day near the end of the semester where we see how much our campus and community care."

The event on the academic quad annually draws participants of all ages and even four-legged supporters (their yards count as well, Evaneski noted).

Participants should pre-register for the event for both convenience and a better chance of being a prizewinner, Evaneski said. Students are encouraged to wear apparel that showcases their involvement on campus, as well. In case of rain, the event will be relocated to the Marano Campus Center arena.

The online signup is at tinyurl.com/Yards19oz.

One Love Foundation

SUNY Oswego’s Involvement with the One Love Foundation started with the escalation workshop, a film-based program that reveals the warning signs of relationship abuse. The One Love Foundation was created in honor of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia student who was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend just weeks before graduation.

The existence of the One Love Foundation rests on the realization the death of Yeardley Love could have been prevented if those around her were educated on the signs of an increasingly unhealthy relationship. Yeardley’s mother and sister co-founded the organization in 2010 to bring attention to the reality and dangers of relationship violence.

Yards for Yeardley was created in December 2014 by three student-athletes on the Boston College and University of Virginia women’s lacrosse teams. The event thrives under the support of the One Love Foundation’s efforts to end relationship abuse through education of young people.