Center on Domestic Violence, School of Public Affairs

When is it just a fight? When is it abuse? As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Center on Domestic Violence partnered with ten other organizations across campus to organize Love, Sex, Lies: An Intimacy Checkup.

The two-day event October 24-25 served a record 1054 people. Each participant completed an anonymous survey about the prevalence of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological in their current or most recent relationship.

Trained advocates were on hand to meet with participants to discuss their answers and provide support and referrals. The purpose of the event was to screen students, faculty and staff for abuse in their intimate relationships and provide resources, support and referrals.

The annual event, Love, Sex Lies has been held since 2006. Barbara Paradiso, director, Center on Domestic Violence, said “the event provides an opportunity for people who might not typically seek help for abuse within their relationships to comfortably access information and assistance.”

Paradiso added that the program also creates greater awareness of the Phoenix Center at Auraria (PCA), which provides victim services and prevention education on relationship violence, sexual assault, and stalking to the campus community. The PCA Helpline number is 303-556-2255. Seven local shelters and advocacy groups staffed tables at the event to further increase awareness.

More than 65 volunteers staffed the event. Participants responses were overwhelmingly positive, reporting that the screening provided “helpful support” and “useful resources.” A number of participants stated that the event helped them realize they were in unhealthy or controlling relationships. The event was free and included pizza and chair massages.

For more information, call the Center on Domestic Violence at 303-315-2489 or email cdv@ucdenver.edu.