UNC Charlotte Launches Niners Against Violence Program to Combat Interpersonal Violence

UNC Charlotte Students Engage in Violence Prevention Cohort Program

CHARLOTTE, NC – On a warm Tuesday evening, students gathered in the Bonnie E. Cone Center to kick off the latest round of the Niners Against Violence (NAV) cohort program. Launched on September 17, this initiative aims to equip students with the tools they need to combat interpersonal violence, a pressing issue affecting many in our society. For these students, the next eight weeks promise not just learning, but a chance to make a tangible difference on their campus.

A New Adventure Begins

This year marks indeed a milestone as Chelsey Walker and Lucy Bullock, both dedicated violence prevention specialists, take the helm for this program. With the sessions scheduled every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., participants will dive into engaging activities, enjoy dinner, and hold discussions led by NAV ambassadors.

“We want students after they finish the eight weeks, investing 16 hours of their time, to feel like they have a place to land,” Walker shared. “We aim to keep them committed and actively engaged in violence prevention efforts.”

Growing Interest in Violence Prevention

What’s even more exciting this year is the remarkable surge in interest from students. A whopping twenty-eight students have enrolled for the program, nearly three times the number from previous years. Bullock couldn’t hide her enthusiasm, saying, “Yeah, that was exciting because that was not a number that we’d seen in the last two years.”

The NAV program is not just about these intensive eight weeks; it hosts events year-round to highlight crucial awareness months such as Relationship Violence Awareness in October and Stalking Awareness in January. There’s always something happening, ensuring that the discussions and learning around violence prevention continue well beyond the classroom.

The Impact of NAV

NAV was established in 2023, thanks to the efforts of Jesse Gonzales-Smith, a Levine Scholar determined to create a safer campus culture. His vision led to the creation of this cohort program, which focuses on evidence-based training and education. With staggering statistics revealing that 29% of women and 10% of men in the U.S. have faced domestic violence, the work being done by NAV becomes even more crucial.

“We teach everyone how to prevent sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking,” Bullock noted, emphasizing the direct intervention strategies the program offers. Taking action when witnessing potential violence is a part of the learning experience, alongside fostering community and changing the culture surrounding these issues.

Breadth of Learning and Activities

Throughout the eight-week program, students will engage in various informative activities. One particularly noteworthy exercise is the empathy-building activity at the program’s conclusion. “It really puts students in the shoes of a victim or survivor,” Walker stated. “That exercise, I think students found really powerful and impactful.”

For those curious about practical skills, an optional final session includes self-defense training with police and public safety officers, giving students essential tools for their own safety.

Although the fall session has already closed for sign-ups, students looking to join the next cohort can look forward to a similar experience come spring. NAV provides ongoing opportunities for training throughout the year, welcoming student organizations and staff to join in the fight against violence.

Be Part of the Change

Bullock reminds us that combating violence isn’t solely on the shoulders of specialists like herself and Walker. “Students have a lot of power in preventing what happens to those around them by showing positive norms,” she asserted. This is a call to all students at UNC Charlotte to engage, learn, and actively contribute to creating a safe, nurturing community.

For more information on Niners Against Violence and to stay updated on future programs, students can follow NAV on Instagram at @clt_cwp. Remember, together, we can build a culture where interpersonal violence becomes a thing of the past.