2025 Purple Week at SLU

By Nora Kenyon Last updated Oct 30, 2025

Photo from The Color Run: A collaboration between Advocates and Greek Life in 2023. PHOTO CREDIT: MOLLY DOYLE '25

The Advocates Program

This week, the Advocates Program held its annual Purple Week. Purple Week occurs during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is aimed at raising awareness and providing support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

“Purple Week is a labor of love from our executive board,” said President of the Advocates, Emma Cross ‘26.

Throughout the week, the Advocates held special events in collaboration with other organizations such as Chi Omega, the POWER House, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, the Dub and the Barista. “These collaborations have allowed us to reach different groups across campus and consciously spread our message, believe and support survivors,” said Cross.

Purple Week began with Letters to Burn with Chi O, a domestic violence awareness event.

Participants were encouraged to write down things they want to heal from and throw them into the fire as a metaphor for moving past these issues. The biannual Take Back the Night event was held in the Gunnison Memorial Chapel. Take Back the Night is an event partnered with the Dub. It provides a safe space for those who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault to share their stories. Other Purple Week events included Bracelet Making and Words of Affirmation, These Hands Don’t Hurt and sex trivia. “We hope students have been able to find events that they could gain meaning and empowerment from,” said Cross

But the organization isn’t just active during Purple Week. The Advocates Program is a campus-wide organization aimed at providing education on domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking as well as supporting survivors. The Advocate’s goal is to continue to increase awareness about the resources available to students who have been affected by sexual assault and violence. The program’s website states, “We are dedicated to creating safe spaces in St. Lawrence University and the surrounding communities for survivors of all genders, sexual orientations, classes, races, and religions.”

Along with club events, the Advocates provide a 24-hour confidential hotline throughout the semester as well as Analysis, Warning, Action, Recovery, and Engagement training. AWARE training happens once a semester. This semester’s training will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.