Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

by Rachel Barter ’27 on October 23, 2025

Campus

Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Protecting & Supporting Our Fellow Friars

As a person who has friends and family members who have been survivors of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a very important month full of reflection and education, which is not often enough brought to the forefront. The goal and purpose of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, encourage support of survivors, honor victims, and, perhaps most importantly, mobilize people to take action to prevent it. By raising public consciousness of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness Month encourages people to get involved, support preventative legislation, and build communities where everyone feels safe. Similar to Mental Health Awareness Month, which is also observed in October, the month-long observance helps to bring this often-silenced issue into the open and to empower survivors to seek safety and support.

In the U.S., “an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner… more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.” Additionally, more than “one in three women (35.6 percent) and one in four men (28.5 percent) in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.”

Given that around 30 percent of men and women in the U.S. have experienced domestic violence during their lifetime, Domestic Violence Awareness Month should not be taken lightly and should be used as a stepping stone for taking action against domestic violence, rather than a pit stop on our journeys throughout the year. Domestic violence does not cease during the other 11 months of the year, so it is very important to utilize Domestic Violence Awareness Month as a consciousness-raising tool, but not to let our efforts stop there.

As demonstrated by the statistics above, no person is disconnected from the effects and experiences of domestic violence, whether we have personally experienced it or are connected to other people who have or are currently experiencing domestic violence. We are all connected to domestic violence in one way or another, and if you are someone who has not experienced or interacted with domestic violence, then we have an obligation to take action against domestic violence and the broader interpersonal violence; survivors should not be perceived as responsible for fixing a society and an issue that they were violated and discriminated against by. However, survivors and victims of domestic violence should be the very people using their unique personal experiences to guide the actions against domestic violence because they are the only people who have comprehensive knowledge about how to protect themselves and others.

Recognizing the importance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and taking action is also particularly relevant for us as college students when considering the following statistics about domestic violence for teens and young adults: about one in 12 experienced physical dating violence, about one in 10 experienced sexual dating violence, and 33 percent of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. Additionally, it is important to highlight that certain marginalized groups are more at risk than others, including female students, students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and students of color, which points to a larger societal discrimination.

Lastly, I want to discuss how we can do our part to help take action against domestic violence and support survivors. One of the most important things to remember is that it is never the victim’s fault that they experienced domestic violence, and we should not be using any language or acting in such a way that explicitly states or implies it; for example, we should not ask the survivors questions like, “Why didn’t you leave sooner?”, “Why didn’t you report it sooner?”, “Why didn’t you just say no?”, “What were you wearing?” or “You were drunk.” Such lines of questioning are all too common today, especially regarding female college students, yet they are so damaging and hurtful to victims, considering one of the greatest barriers to seeking help and reporting abuse is the victim feeling they are to blame for what has happened to them. Therefore, when people speak or behave in a way that reinforces this feeling of self-blame, the impact of the abuse may be greater, leading to a longer recovery. Instead, we want to be there for them and let the survivors tell us what they want/need from us so that we can best support them without taking charge of how they want to begin taking action against it or begin the never-ending journey or “healing.”

As Dr. Driessen, an Assistant Professor of the Social Work Department and an Affiliated Faculty with the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, states, “PC is a place where community is so important to our values. We can all draw upon the strength of this community, such as being part of the Friar Family, to break the silence, debunk stigma, remind each other that you are never alone, and encouragement of just how powerful and impactful a nonjudgmental, listening, and empathetic presence can be.”

Overall, we are responsible for educating ourselves on domestic violence and doing our best to support ourselves or the people around us who have experienced domestic violence. We cannot ignore the important and life-threatening issue that the month of October reminds us about every year, and we need to carry this momentum with us throughout the rest of the year by treating survivors with dignity and respect, as well as looking out for your fellow Friars and neighbors to keep everyone safe. “And remember that there are many resources for everyone on campus, including the opportunity to speak to a confidential victim advocate to learn more about resources, rights, and processes.”

Keeping the Coasts Clear: PC Student Helps in Fight Against Pollution

by The Cowl Editor on April 22, 2021

Features

Sweeping Tides was founded by Manoog along with his cousin and best friend. Photo courtesy of Sweeping Tides.

by Kyle Burgess ’21

News Co-Editor

As the old adage goes, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” For Providence College students like Charles “Fred” Manoog ’23, this phrase was more than just a job-hunting cliché. Instead, Manoog decided to make the most out of his passion by turning it into a business opportunity.

Manoog first discovered PC through his uncle who himself is a PC alumnus. During the college applications process, his uncle insisted that he include Providence College on his list despite Manoog’s uncertainty about it. However, all he needed was one visit to know for sure that he was in the right place.

“When I toured it was a beautiful day and all the students were outside hanging out, it gave off a great vibe that I knew I wanted to be a part of,” Manoog explained. “I then decided to apply early decision and got in, I love it so much here.”

In addition to spending time with his friends at PC, one of Manoog’s other strong passions is his love for the ocean. In addition to surfing, Manoog spends his summers as a lifeguard back home. While working as a lifeguard in Cape Cod with his cousin and best friend, he witnessed large amounts of trash washing up on the beach. This did not sit well with Manoog who, along with his cousin and friend, decided to do something about preventing further pollution.

Together, the three young men formed Sweeping Tides. Sweeping Tides is an apparel company that specializes in surf apparel with 5% of purchases going towards Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization dedicated to ocean conservation.

“I have been affiliated with it since the beginning since I am one of the co-founders,” Manoog said. “It has been a great experience for me to watch a business grow.”

The end goal for the founders of Sweeping Tides is to expand their catalog of items for potential buyers in the near future. They hope to eventually sell hard-goods like surfboards and wetsuits. Should that not work out as planned, then they are just as satisfied to continue their apparel brand and gain greater community involvement in the conservation effort.

For Manoog and his fellow co-founders, profit was never a priority as much as bringing attention to the fight to keep oceans clean. “We are all surfers so we are very passionate about the ocean and taking care of it. We wanted to start a way to help keep it clean.”

Following graduation from PC, Manoog sees himself moving to the coast or Hawaii, working for either a large surf company or an ocean conservation brand. For now, however, he is thankful to combine his passion for the ocean with a platform that enables him to work in the field he loves so much.