UNITEC Students Ask R U OK?

Over 400 Unitec staff and students have shown their support for the 'It's Not OK' campaign by creating a photo mosaic, spelling out 'R U OK?' Using photos submitted by staff and students, Unitec has created a visible symbol of the institute of technology's support of the national 'It's Not OK' campaign.

Working with the Ministry of Social Development and the Unitec Student Union (USU), Unitec Institute of Technology aims to help raise awareness of violent relationships, an issue which is close to home for many New Zealanders.

According to the Ministry of Social Development, one in three women say they have experienced physical or sexual abuse from a partner in their lifetime, which contributes to the $8 billion that family violence costs New Zealand each year.

The campaign was originally brought to Unitec's attention by a student studying Social Practice, who believed that violence was an important issue for Unitec to take a stand on. USU President, Pete Hodkinson says the campaign has real support from Unitec students. "It's great to see Unitec putting together such a strong response to something that genuinely matters to our students. This kind of visible outcome reinforces the fact that students do have a voice and are listened to."

Unitec Chief Executive, Dr Rick Ede says it was important for the institute to take a leadership role in the community. "Unitec was presented with a significant opportunity to take a leadership role in our communities and across the tertiary sector to act as an agent of positive social and economic change. We are communicating the message that violence, of any kind, is not OK. We aim to increase the understanding of our staff, students and communities by raising awareness of this issue and promoting that it is OK to ask for help."

You can see the R U Ok? mosaic via facebook here. 

You can read the media release from UNITEC regarding this project here. 

You can access the website of the Campaign for Action on Violence within Families here. 

Photo credit: Istock Photo