On Feb. 3, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Verizon Wireless announced a statewide initiative to partner with college campuses to combat dating violence, and NIU is looking to take part.

Diane Pospisil-Kinney, a counselor at the Counseling and Student Development Center, said NIU has been in contact about domestic violence and sexual assault with the Illinois attorney general’s office in the past. It may join Madigan’s campaign to raise awareness about dating violence.

Although NIU has not formally joined the campaign, that doesn’t mean there aren’t efforts to prevent domestic violence and provide services for victims.

A new program at the CSDC, called A Safe Place, will begin today to educate students about relationship abuse and how it is maintained. The group will explain how to stay safe and get out of abusive relationships.

A Safe Place, which will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, is aimed at female students who may be questioning the safety of their relationships or who have experienced an abusive relationship. Pospisil-Kinney said that it isn’t a therapy session but an opportunity for students to connect with others who have similar issues.

One out of five teens experiences some sort of dating violence, which indicates domestic violence is a growing national problem, Pospisil-Kinney said. Although it is not a huge problem at NIU, it does happen here, she said.

A press release from the attorney general’s office stated indications of dating abuse include a boyfriend who wants to control what his partner wears or does, a boyfriend who puts his partner down constantly and/or a boyfriend who gets jealous easily.

Madigan’s campaign aims to prevent these situations on college campuses.

“Our goal is to let college students know that verbal abuse is not acceptable. It is harmful in itself and can lead to physical or sexual abuse that can scar young women far beyond their college years,” Madigan said.

Universities will receive posters with examples of statements that often indicate abuse. Poster slogans include, “You’re such a loser, I don’t even know why I hang out with you” and “What do you mean, no?”

“These are some of the words that cause harm,” Pospisil-Kinney said.

She said the posters combine the slogans with images such as fists to get the message out that domestic violence isn’t just physical violence but can include emotional or verbal abuse as well.

The posters will hang in places such as the residence halls, cafeterias and sorority and fraternity houses.

For more information about A Safe Place or any other support groups, call the CSDC at 753-1206.