Leading up to spring of 2010, our campaign focus was mainly concentrated on reaching middle and high school students with the Love Is Not Abuse curriculum, but after the untimely death of University of Virginia senior Yeardley Love we realized it was necessary to broaden the scope.
As a result of the generated interest, a College Task Force was formed to adapt the current High School Edition of the curriculum to the college population. This task force consisted of educators and domestic and sexual violence experts from Columbia University, George Mason University, the University of Kansas, Virginia Community College System, Northern Virginia Community College and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Diligently working throughout the summer and fall, the expert group provided insight on ways that relationship violence manifests in college relationships and also advised on key strategies for administering the curriculum in a college setting.
Released in December 2010, the new (free) Love Is Not Abuse College Edition curriculum consists of three sections designed as stand-alone units either to be taught consecutively or as one larger course. The first college curriculum of its kind, Love Is Not Abuse educates students about the dangers and warning signs of dating violence, offers lessons specifically on abuse via technology and provides resources where college students can find help on campus.
The ultimate goal is to ensure that the school-aged population – from middle school through college - has the opportunity to be taught about these dating abuse issues in order for a life to be saved.
The curriculum is free-of-charge, easily accessible and available online here.
