Newsroom

Raising awareness about sexual assault on college campuses and in the community has led Raritan Valley Community College Cosmetology and Esthetics students to take action against the problem through a service learning project.

The students participated in a yearlong domestic violence training conducted by the non-profit organization, Safe in Hunterdon. In the Fall Semester, the students learned about the signs and symptoms of domestic violence and what can be done to help victims. Impassioned by what they learned, the students decided to create a service learning project during the Spring Semester that engaged local salon owners and stylists to become involved in the fight against domestic violence.

As part of their project, the students invited professionals from over 50 hair salons and spas to the College on April 1 to attend a domestic violence training workshop offered by Safe in Hunterdon. The workshop included training on how to recognize the signs of abuse and information about how to safely refer victims to seek help.

The students’ knowledge about domestic violence was further enhanced through their classroom learning. Students in RVCC’s beauty profession programs participate in the national Cut-It-Out initiative, which is dedicated to mobilizing salon spa professionals, students and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse in communities across the United States.

By emphasizing high quality education, customer service skills and awareness, RVCC’s Cosmetology curriculum uses an interventionist approach in the area of sexual assault. It also helps students to confront the complexities of sexual assault together with the beauty community, and it increases sensitivity and communication skills for their future careers in the industry.

RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2019

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #138