The following is a message from Dillon A. Palmer–

Audeamus! Let Us Dare! Is this not the driving force behind what makes
Champlain so great? Well, I say we should dare to do something drastic to
make a difference; to start a conversation. October is Domestic Violence
Awareness month and although I am sure there will be  many who do not see
this as an appropriate method to make such a conversation happen, I am
daring to dare, for bold action is needed to truly make an impact with
such pervasive and life altering issues such as this! This is an issue
that impacts 1/4 women and 1/5 men across the country and countless
children and families, crossing all socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and
sexual orientation boundaries, and as such must be brought to the front
lines of our minds to ensure that these issues are addressed!

As such a problem that encompasses an infinite number of challenges and
impacts so many people in our society, I believe that it needs an equally
drastic movement to counter and educate people of these issues, and thus I
am asking for your help in a Walk-Out to Talk-Out–End the Silence, End
the Violence day for this October 21st, a Tuesday. I am asking that you
please help to spread the word to all of the clubs on campus and all of
the student leaders. The walk-out shall take place at 9:45am on Tuesday,
October 21st, where students will gather on Aiken Lawn to speak out and
show a unified solidarity against a culture of violence that exists in our
society to help stand strong with the secret and silent survivors in our
society (both locally at Champlain and in Vermont, nationally, and
globally). The walk-out will go for as long as the student body is
determined to make a stand and to participate in a safe and open dialogue
about domestic violence.

The walk-out is intended to demonstrate the students’ solidarity with
survivors/victims of domestic violence. By walking out of classes we are
not denouncing nor intending to defy our education nor the institution; we
are, rather, exemplifying the learning and vision of Champlain College. We
are choosing to recognize the ways in which education can be a tool for
changing a culture of silence that can accompany violence.
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif]
By walking-out, we are stating our rejection of acts that contribute to a
culture of violence, such as “slut shaming”, victim blaming, and
harassment.

I hope that you will be able to help me in this effort to dare and to stay
true to our college’s motto, and to make a difference that will change the
world one person at a time!