A bandaged heart, a Princess Peach analogy and a list of statistics are among the messages students at MU and around the country are a few of the things participants have shared through Alpha Phi Gamma’s [LoveNote](http://aphiglovenote.wordpress.com) campaign.
MU’s Alpha Phi Gamma chapter created the LoveNote campaign this fall in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Based on the community art project PostSecret, LoveNote has participants write and draw messages for display online.
“It’s not only to raise awareness,” Alpha Phi Gamma philanthropy chairwoman Vineeta Tan said. “Most people have been sending in words of encouragement, but (some have) also been sharing personal stories. It is not only a healing process for survivors, but it will also empower others to break the silence about domestic violence.”
Alpha Phi Gamma president Karen Moore said the chapter decided to host LoveNote because of its universal accessibility.
“You don’t have to have the money or time to give up, but just something nice to say,” Moore said.
Members began staffing a table Monday in the MU Student Center. In addition to helping students write their own LoveNotes, they passed out purple ribbons, distributed domestic violence statistics and asked students to pledge against domestic violence by signing a “Love Should Not Hurt” banner that will be hung in the Student Center.
“People have been passionate and really interested in what we’re working toward,” Moore said.
MU’s Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Gamma has both informed the national board about LoveNote and received help from chapters nationwide.
“One of our sisters from California wrote a poem in honor of someone she knows,” Tan said. “It touches on everything about domestic violence, how it feels to be in (that type of) relationship. It’s a letter to give words of encouragement to survivors.”
Tan said the women plan to send the LoveNote website link to agencies across the country to let domestic abuse survivors know they have support.
“We all believe in the power of words, drawing, people taking the effort to write something,” Tan said. “It can be very empowering.”
The sorority adopted Fight Against Violence Toward Women as its national philanthropy in 1999. Alpha Phi Gamma later joined the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 2009.
Alpha Phi Gamma members work year-round to raise domestic violence awareness in their own communities.
“It’s kind of like a virus,” Moore said. “It’s everywhere, but no one really knows it’s there.”
Alpha Phi Gamma webmaster Kaitlyn Phillips said it is important to openly speak about domestic violence.
“When it’s not spoken about, people are more likely to get away with it,” Phillips said.
MU’s chapter has previously participated in the sexual safety movement Take Back the Night and helped sponsor a fundraiser called Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. Members also host spa nights for survivors of domestic violence at a local shelter. They also volunteered with the Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Center’s “Clothesline Project” on Tuesday on Lowry Mall.
“Raising awareness (for domestic violence) is empowering,” Moore said. “You empower people who’ve experienced it or help people in fighting it.”
Tan considers domestic violence awareness important because it is one of the most chronic unreported crimes in the United States.
“It’s not just a women’s issue,” Tan said. “It affects even children, men and people across races and across class statuses. Everyone is affected.”
Friday is the last day Alpha Phi Gamma will have a table in the student center. LoveNote drop boxes will be at the MU Multicultural Center all month and in residence halls beginning next week until Nov. 6. Alpha Phi Gamma is also accepting mailed and emailed LoveNotes.