Last week was the University of New Haven Delta Phi Epsilon’s semi-annual “Be The Change Week.” Starting on Monday, March 28, DPhiE teamed up with S.M.I.L.E., Phi Sigma Sigma, and SCOPE to hold various events each night of the week to inform students about the problems of emotional and mental abuse.
Starting on Monday, Delta Phi Epsilon held various speakers to talk about emotional and physical abuse. DPhiE members spoke about personal experiences with abuse to help inform and relate to others. Tuesday night, participants braved the cold and competed in relay races held in the quad. Wednesday served as an information session and discussion about emotional and mental abuse. And lastly, to close the week out, Mean Girls was played on Thursday night.
The purpose of “Be the Change Week” is to raise awareness about a cause other than the current philanthropy of the sorority. A different topic is chosen each semester and is based on something that the university doesn’t see from other organizations.
All funds raised during the week went to Kidsafe CT, a non-profit organization which focuses on the prevention and treatment of physically and mentally abused children. This program is geared toward providing a safe place for the youth of the community. Kidsafe CT is involved in several different outreach programs including a teen dating violence and electronic victimization intervention program.
Delta Phi Epsilon has hosted “Be The Change Week” since first chartering on UNH’s campus.
Jacqueline Hinrichs, a senior member of Delta Phi Epsilon, serves as coordinator of “Be The Change.”
“My favorite part about this week is having people come up to me telling me they loved that event or they learned so much about emotional abuse,” said Hinrichs. “It’s an awesome feeling knowing that the week I have been planning and stressing about all semester is making people think about emotional abuse and how it happens on the daily.”
“It opened our eyes to how even the small things we joke around about can be abuse. We learned that most abuse can start as emotional or verbal and can trickle down to physical abuse,” Emma Seabury, a sophomore DPhiE member said.
