SUNY Joins “Shine the Light” for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 3, 2017
Albany – The State University of New York today announced it has joined the "Shine the Light on Domestic Violence" campaign, sponsored by the NYS Office for Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV), to build awareness about the resources available for victims of domestic abuse and their families. The historic SUNY Plaza building on Broadway in downtown Albany will be lit with purple lights for the month of October.
"It is our hope that this symbolic action by SUNY, together with efforts to 'shine the light' on campuses across New York State, helps build awareness about the resources and support available for victims of domestic violence and their loved ones," said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. "As we continue to see the impact of violence unfold in Las Vegas, it is even more important that we join the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence in its 10th anniversary to draw attention to this issue and help make a difference."
The NYS Domestic and Sexual Abuse Hotline (800-942-6906) responds to and is a resource for victims of domestic and sexual violence, concerned others and professionals, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotline offers trained counselors who respond to a number of service needs, including: crisis intervention, supportive counseling, information and referral services, and technical support to providers. There are also programs that provide direct services to victims, including counseling and emergency shelter. Information about those programs is available via New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence at www.nyscadv.org, and the New York State Office of Victim Services at https://ovs.ny.gov funds a network of more than 200 programs that assist crime victims across the state.
This is OPDV’s tenth year to "Shine the Light on Domestic Violence" by turning the State purple. In addition to highly visible buildings, fountains, statues, storefronts, and whole neighborhoods have turned purple over the last decade. Supporters of the cause are being asked to wear purple clothing and/or purple ribbons on Thursday, Oct. 19 and to tell people why they support the cause. The official hashtags for this year’s campaign are #ShineTheLight and #DontDoNothing.
About SUNY Plaza
The SUNY System Administration building, formerly occupied by Delaware & Hudson Railroad, was completed between 1915 and 1917, replacing a large railroad yard, trains, and bridge with the more attractive plaza and surrounding buildings that exist today. SUNY moved into the main building in 1978 and into what is known as the Federal Building in 1980.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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