THEWIRE

Aevidum on Owens Campus

By Bryce Evans

 

Students and faculty at Delaware Technical Community College Owens campus, are trying to start a club to bring awareness to bullying, sexual abuse, suicide, and depression.

 

Aevidum is a word that means “I’ve got your back” and originated at a school in Lancaster in 2004, as a result of a child suicide in an attempt to bring a better mental atmosphere into schools.

 

At Owens Campus, students Austin Reynolds and Cindy Garcia, along with Delaware Tech Public Information Officer for Marketing and Public Relations Jason Burlew, are hoping to start Aevidum on campus. 

 

Reynolds helped start Aevidum at Sussex Tech her senior year and will now be the president of Aevidum at Delaware Tech.

 

It is still in the making, but according to Burlew, they are looking for full approval on the club next month from the SGA. Reynolds and Garcia obtained the required amount of signatures needed. 

 

The club does not currently have a structured schedule but, Burlew said, meetings may be two times a month with an occasional activity day worked around group members schedules.

 

Aevidum was founded to talk about the serious topics students may feel uncomfortable to talk about with others, and mix in a professional with a physiological background to create a safer mental environment.

 

Burlew attended a meeting in Dover on the topic, and said there is a Psychology instructor at Owens campus that is interested in providing for the club.

 

“My vision is to take it a step further,” Burlew said, “to make it an empowering group where you can escape your problems.”

 

Garcia explained in order to take it a step further, they will every once in a while have someone from the group come in and teach the rest of the group a skill such as drawing or playing a musical instrument. 

 

“Maybe you don’t feel comfortable doing something in front of the whole school,” Garcia said, “Well, you can do it here in front of the group.”

 

For further information on Aevidum, visit Aevidum.org. For further information on Aevidum at Owens campus, e-mail Jason Burlew at Jburlew@dtcc.edu.