Every year, Sexual Health & Violence Prevention and Research sponsors several awareness campaigns and events. Often in collaboration with other campus offices and organizations, SH&VP reaches out to the community in an effort to educate and raise awareness about issues surrounding sexual health, sexual assault, and interpersonal violence. If you are interested in learning more or want to know how you or your organization can get involved, contact us at (803) 777-8248. We’re located in the lower level of the Thomson Student Health Center.

• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we bring awareness to the campus about healthy and unhealthy relationships, and educate students about the signs of an abusive relationship.
  The Silent Witness Project is an awareness campaign adapted from a national program that focuses on domestic homicide. Cardboard silhouettes are used to represent adults who have died at the hands of violence. Placed on the front of each silhouette is a true story of peoples’ direct and indirect experiences with domestic violence. The learning outcomes of the Silent Witness Project are to promote dialogue and advocacy about sexual assault and domestic violence by presenting stories for students to view. For more information about the history and results of the Silent Witness National Initiative, click here.
  These Hands Don't Hurt is an awareness campaign held during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). The campaign is designed to educate the University community on intimate partner violence and relationship violence on college campuses. The week includes a grand display where students, staff and faculty can paint or trace their hands on a large canvas to signify a commitment that they will not participate in violence within their relationships.
  
  
• World AIDS Day: During the month of November, Sexual Health & Violence Prevention organizes the University of South Carolina's World Aids Day campaign. This campaign is designed to educate, inform, and raise awareness to the issue of HIV/AIDS. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Columbia, SC ranks 12th in the nation for AIDS cases and South Carolina ranks 9th in the nation for AIDS cases.
  Free HIV Testing: Each year, students are given the opportunity to obtain free HIV testing. For World AIDS Day 2007, Rapid OraQuick testing was available. Students were tested and given results the same day. Approximately 100 students were tested at this event.
  AIDS Quilt Project: This is a project that allows for a visual representation of the University's commitment to raise awareness and provide education about HIV/AIDS. Students can sponsor a single panel to represent any HIV/AIDS issue or concern. The panels are then collected and assembled into a quilt, which is then displayed during the campaign.
  
  
• Sexual Responsibility Week / Safe Spring Break: Each year before students head out for spring break, Sexual Health & Violence Prevention creates a campaign that is designed to encourage and remind students to make healthy and responsible decisions that will reduce their sexual health risks.
  Project Condom was our event during the 2008 Spring Break and was sponsored by One Condoms. Following the format of Bravo TV's Project Runway, the show was showcase of garments designed by student organizations. A panel of judges voted for a winner who was then featured at the 2008 American College Health Association conference and the 2008 International HIV/AIDS conference. The learning outcome of this event was to have students thinking about the stigma of condom use and to promote dialogue about the health benefits of condoms.
  
  
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month: April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During this month, our campaign is designed to empower survivors with a voice and inspire the campus community to help prevent this violence. Our learning outcome is to equip students with the skills to intervene in situations that may be volatile, teach them the meaning of consent and respect, and to build healthy relationships. The Clothesline Project is a visual, educational and healing tool for survivors of sexual assault and friends of survivors who care about stopping the violence. The Clothesline Project is displayed out on campus for a week and t-shirt painting seessions are held at various times before the display date.
  
  
• Homophobia Awareness Week: During this week, our campaign is focused on bringing awareness to GLBTQ health issues and providing support to our GLBTQ campus community. Due to the uniquely difficult issues of this minority population, it is our hope that these students will feel supported and cared for and will recognize the resources available to them. Additionally, our goal is to educate other students about GLBTQ issues and help them become allies.
  
  
• Stalking Awareness Week: Like many college campuses with students from this technologically savvy generation, stalking and cyber-stalking is concern here at USC. Events during this week help to empower students with knowledge and skills to lower their risk.