Awareness’ for October
By Caydince Bumpus | Community Editor
If you’re anything like me, an avid October enthusiast, you’re probably already thinking about Halloween plans and when you’re going to do all those fun fall festivities. However, there are a few things that I want you guys to keep in mind over the course of the month, and hopefully year-long. One of the topics talked about does have a trigger warning: DV, if you decide to keep reading please tread lightly!
Fire Prevention Awareness: If you were a student or faculty here last year you most definitely remember all of the incidents that happened on the Gorham campus. Here are some things that you can do to keep our dorms safe and unharmed from flames. Throw away lithium batteries properly. These are not something that you can just dispose of in the average trash can. In fact there are places that you can go to in order to get rid of them the safe way. All you have to do is look up the nearest location near you and head right over. Another way to ensure that you’re helping to keep the dorm buildings clear from fire is to unplug anything that isn’t being used from your outlets. And obviously, as it is ResLife’s rule, don’t have hot plates or anything of that nature in your dorm. Especially don’t have candles. In the instance where fire does occur, or just the occasional cooking mishap, don’t ignore the fire alarms, they are put there to keep you guys safe.
Domestic Violence Awareness: Domestic violence isn’t always as black and white as being physically abused by a partner. It can be anything from physical, sexual, financial, emotional or psychological. Most of the time it can be very hard to notice, especially if it is happening to someone that you care about and not you directly. If you or someone that you care about is in this kind of situation it may seem difficult to get out of it. The most important thing that I want you to keep in mind is that there are resources available to you. USM Health and Counseling Services is an excellent resource to have and to use. Another thing to remember is that there are mandated reporters all around you on campus. Professors are required to have mandated reporting training and if you have a professor that you are really close to they are there to help you. There are also non-profit organizations that service these kinds of situations. It may seem like you’re all alone in this, but please keep in mind that there are tools and resources that you can use to help you out of this situation.
Honorable Mentions: Bully Prevention Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and National Disability Employment Month.
To leave you guys on a positive note, I hope you guys have an amazing October! Know that you guys are crushing this crazy world and time that we are living in. And have a wonderful, but safe Halloween.