Dozens of students, staff, and community members gathered at Stony Brook University’s Academic Mall on October 29 for the annual “Take a Stand/Walk With Me” march. The event was organized to raise awareness about relationship and domestic violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The Spirit of Stony Brook marching band, dance team, and mascot Wolfie led the procession. Participants carried handmade signs with messages such as “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” and “Seawolves Break the Silence.” Chants calling for an end to violence echoed across the Student Activities Center (SAC) Plaza.
Christine Szaraz, associate director of the Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO) and survivor advocate, addressed attendees: “We want people to understand what violence looks like — verbal, physical, emotional, sexual,” Szaraz said. “We’re here to say, ‘Not here, not okay.’ Violence thrives in silence… we’re making a lot of noize and bringing it out of the shadows.”
Before the march began, campus and community organizations set up tables at SAC Plaza. Groups including CPO, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Planned Parenthood, ECLI Vibes, and Healthier U provided information on prevention resources and support services. Students assembled purple care packages while learning about available assistance.
Szaraz noted that between 20% to 30% of college students experience some form of relationship violence. She added: “Over half of college students say they wouldn’t know how to recognize it or how to help a friend,” she said. “It’s not just a one-day-a-year thing, bringing awareness to these issues.”
Richard Gatteau, vice president for Student Affairs at Stony Brook University, spoke about the institution’s approach: “At Stony Brook, you are not alone,” Gatteau told those present. “Domestic violence has no place in our community. Ending it requires all of us, our students, faculty, and staff working together to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and stand in solidarity with survivors.”
Amanda Zhao—a senior nursing student who serves as CPO’s VIPRE student assistant/peer educator—encouraged ongoing discussion beyond events like this march. Zhao said: “Having educational workshops like One Love is awesome,” referring to CPO’s program focused on recognizing unhealthy relationships. “What is even more awesome is that that’s not the only resource and program that we offer to students.”
As participants marched through campus chanting slogans against violence—including calls for Seawolves to break their silence—Szaraz reflected on nearly two decades of organizing this event: “This march has been happening for almost 20 years,” she said. “And my favorite part every year is when the drummers lead us to represent that we will not be silent.”
Resources for sexual assault or domestic violence prevention and survivor support are available both on- and off-campus through university offices such as CPO (stonybrook.edu/cpo), CAPS (stonybrook.edu/caps), Title IX (stonybrook.edu/titleix), SANE Center via Survivor Advocate contact; University Police Department; ECLI-VIBES; Long Island Against Domestic Violence; National Sexual Assault Hotline; National Domestic Violence Hotline; One Love Foundation; National Sexual Violence Resource Center; National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.
