October is domestic violence awareness month and The Movement, a group dedicated to stopping violence against women, in conjunction with the Women’s Center, is pumped to help spread the word.

The Movement, a trained group of both male and female students in the areas of sexual and relationship violence prevention, hosted the second annual “These Hands Don’t Hurt” project Monday.

Students, staff and faculty made pledges to not use their hands for violence by dipping their hands in paint and stamping them onto a canvas, Kiesha Webb, senior in psychology and The Movement peer, said. Students have the option of signing their names along with their handprints to show their support for stopping domestic violence.

Last year 600 to 700 student, faculty and staff participated and Juliette Grimmett, rape prevention education coordinator for the Women’s Center and adviser for The Movement, said this year’s turnout was about the same.

She said people often opt to sign their names to their handprints because they feel like it has more meaning that way.

“People got to sign their name to their handprint, and they often do that so they feel connected to the cause … We also let them sign a pledge card and explain what the handprint meant. We are asking people to use their hands only in peace and kindness and nonviolence,” Grimmett said.

Lauren Brookshire, junior in international studies and domestic violence awareness month co-coordinator, said The Movement really wanted to do something fun to get the students involved while also informing them about a serious subject.

“It’s interactive and fun,” Brookshire said. “And we are still giving out information through the handouts.”

Grimmett said combining the participatory event and with informative materials was to entertain, educate and let domestic violence survivors know there is a save haven on campus for them at the Women’s Center.

“We gave resource packets because we know we have survivors on campus. They might need resources to let them know they are not alone because there is a student organization on campus to help them,” Grimmett said.

Brookshire said that it’s important for students to get involved in preventing relationship violence because it is an issue that is not talked about often enough, even though one in three people will be in an abusive relationship in their lifetime.

In order for The Movement to get the word out about the event and domestic violence, Brookshire said the group made a Facebook event and that is how it got many of its participants.

And even though the event was hosted by The Movement, in coordination with the Women’s Center, Grimmett said they did not just target men or just women.

“This wasn’t just a Women’s Center event. The Movement is comprised of men and females. At least 50 percent of the people who really wanted to paint their hands were men,” Grimmett said.

Katrina Jiamachello, a sophomore in zoology, said she is a member of The Movement because she not only encourages the rights of women but rights for everyone.

“I joined The Movement because I’m in support of equality for all — not just between men and women,” Jiamachello said.

Along with the “These Hands Don’t Hurt” project, The Movement peers also painted the Free Expression Tunnel with statistics and facts about relationship violence the night of Oct. 4.

Grimmett said The Movement is in the process of recruiting more members and people interested should visit ncsu.edu/themovement. She also said the Women’s Center is both a confidential support place and a place to inform women they are not alone in their struggles.