For more information about this program, contact the Health Promotion (HP) Office at 979.845.0280 or healthpromotion@tamu.edu.
The Silent Witness project is Texas A&M University's traveling memorial to victims and survivors of partner violence. Since 2004, the Women's Resource Center has hosted this exhibit in order to increase awareness and education about the causes and effects of partner violence. HP took over the project in 2015.
What is the Silent Witness Project?
Currently, there are 10 red, life-size silhouettes in the Silent Witness Exhibit. Each Witness carries a shield with the story of a woman who was murdered by their partner, with the exception of one male Witness who was killed by his sister's former partner. The witnesses will be on display during the month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The witnesses can also be requested by student organization or faculty/staff departments.
Texas A&M's Silent Witness Project is a part of the Silent Witness National Initiative whose goal it is to eliminate domestic murders in the United States. For more information about the National Initiative, click here.
Why is the Silent Witness Project necessary?
Each October, the Texas Council on Family Violence publishes a list of women who were murdered by their partners in Texas. In 2014, 132 women were killed by their partners and 10 of the victim's family, friends, and co-workers were killed during the same incidents. Of those 132 women, 5 were from counties surrounding the Bryan-College Station area.
HP strongly feels that awareness of, and education about partner violence can reduce the number of domestic murders in Texas and the United States.
How can I participate?
- If you are a student, staff, or faculty, please visit the Silent Witness Project Exhibit as it travels around campus, and learn about how to spot indicators of partner violence both in your own relationship and in the relationships of those you love.
- If you are interested in learning more about bystander intervention, sign up for a Green Dot Bystander Intervention Training. More information about Green Dot and registration for the trainings can be found at the Green Dot website.
- If you are staff or faculty who would like to host the project, contact the Health Promotion (HP) Office at 979.845.0280 or healthpromotion@tamu.edu.