The Title IX Office is raising awareness about healthy relationships throughout the spring semester with a series of campus initiatives designed to encourage conversations about respect, consent and personal boundaries.
In February, student organizations created banners promoting healthy relationships, which were then displayed in the Student Recreation Center. Featuring messages about consent, respect and personal boundaries, the banners serve as reminders of the values that foster safe and supportive connections across campus.
Campus groups interested in creating a banner for next year’s display can contact the Title IX Office at titleix@utoledo.edu.
Another initiative, the Green Flag Campaign, is taking place throughout March. In relationships, a “green flag” refers to a positive, healthy trait, while a “red flag” signals behaviors or patterns that may be harmful or manipulative.
Green flags will be displayed in Centennial Mall, featuring words and phrases submitted by members of the campus community that represent qualities of healthy relationships.
In April, the Title IX Office will display red flags in Centennial Mall to highlight the impact of domestic violence in the Toledo community. Each flag represents 10 reports of domestic violence made to the Toledo Police Department. In 2024, the department received 3,846 reports. This year’s display will reflect the 2025 update to the number of reports.
“Initiatives and awareness campaigns like these help keep conversations about healthy relationships a priority,” said Rachel Kellett, Title IX graduate assistant. “When we talk openly about consent, respect and boundaries, we help build a campus culture where healthy relationships are the expectation, not the exception.”
College can be a formative time for learning to identify behaviors that define healthy and unhealthy relationships. While these conversations often focus on romantic partnerships, relationships with family members, friends, classmates and colleagues also play an important role in students’ well-being.
Cultivating healthy connections in all areas of life begins with a strong sense of self-worth, the confidence to advocate for one’s needs and boundaries and the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and care.
“College is a time where you’re finding yourself, so students are in a vulnerable stage in their lives where influence from peers is powerful,” said Ellëana Papadis, Title IX student worker. “It’s important that we build a culture of self-worth, confidence and support, so that students can recognize the signs of abuse in their relationships, as well as their peers.”
