University Of Delaware Hosts Campus Safety Event On Gender-Based Violence Following Arrest Of Brandon Freyre
NEWARK, Del. (CBS) -- A week after hundreds of University of Delaware students protested following the violent attack of a female student, the university came together Tuesday night to talk about their safety and moving forward.
Faculty, staff and students partnered together to address gender-based violence on campus following the violent attack of a student.
Campus safety concerns sparked a conversation at the University of Delaware.
Students fought for change after they learned about a fellow classmate who police say was brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend.
"It's important that we discuss gender-based violence on campus, especially with everything that's happening," sophomore Diane Myers said.
Investigators say on Oct. 8, 20-year-old Brandon Freyre spray painted his ex-girlfriend, choked her unconscious and threw her down the stairs.
Freyre was arrested after the violent attack, suspended and banned from campus. He also had his membership revoked from his fraternity, Kappa Delta Rho.
Last week, hundreds of students marched on Main Street voicing their frustrations and showing they stand with the victim.
University administrators support their activism and will continue to empower students through learning and education.
"We ask them to say and step up and be the change that you think we need in the world," VP for Student Life Jose-Louis Rivera said, "and so, I think it's a form of leadership we are seeing on behalf of our students."
Faculty and staff reminded students of the resources and counseling available on campus to help with trauma, mental health, and other wellness issues.
"I thought they were very organized and all of the resources that they provided, like the phone numbers, was super helpful and that they showed them multiple times," one student said.
"Just to know that there are even different faculty members on campus is so helpful and it makes me feel better about the whole situation," another student said.
We are told the conversations will not stop today. In the meantime, there will be a candlelight vigil later this week for victims of gender-based violence.
