Domestic or dating violence, also referred to as intimate partner or relationship violence, can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Dating violence: Any act of violence committed by an individual who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the complainant. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of the interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. For the purpose of this definition, dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse. Dating violence does not include acts covered under the definition of domestic violence.

Domestic violence: Any act of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the complainant, by a person with whom the complainant shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the complainant as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the complainant under the domestic or family violence laws in the state of Oregon, or by any other person against an adult or youth complainant who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws in the state of Oregon.

Abuse can happen to anyone regardless of race, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or where one lives. People stay in abusive relationships for many reasons, including fear, belief that their abuser needs help and will change, and because they care about the person.

No one deserves to be in an abusive relationship. Help is available.

For more information on how these behaviors may fall under the Student Conduct Code, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards at conduct@uoregon.edu.