The Red Flag Campaign is an initiative started in 2005 by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. The goal of the campaign is to educate and inform college students about the dangers and warning signs of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking on college campuses.

Since the campaign launched, it has spread to over 500 college campuses including colleges in 49 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Shawnee State University is one of the seven Ohio college campuses that participate in the event.

According to the Red Flag Campaign, 1 in 5 college students will experience dating violence, which only serves to emphasize how important the campaign is to educate students about the potential red flags that lead to abusive and toxic relationships.

Shawnee State has been participating in the campaign for a few years now by raising money for the Shawnee State University Domestic Violence Emergency Fund, placing informative posters around campus, and placing small red flags around the campus. 

The Red Flag Campaign is not only focused on students dealing with a toxic relationship. It also encourages bystander intervention by educating friends and families about the warning signs they should be aware of. This sets the campaign apart from other campaigns as most anti-domestic violence campaigns only focus on the victims and not the support networks surrounding the victims. 

Over the last 15 years, the Red Flag Campaign has worked to educate college students on the dangers and warning signs of of harmful relationships. Shawnee State’s branch of the initiative is an excellent local example of the power of education and prevention in regards to domestic violence.