October might mean cooler temperatures, falling leaves, football games and Halloween parties, but it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

In an effort to inform the student body of the growing trend of violence, Feminist Majority, Campus for Choice and Men Against Sexual Violence have teamed up and created a "house" to help make the issue more visible. Today is the final day of the groups' Quad display.

Trish Pruis, a senior in LAS and president of Feminist Majority, said the three-walled structure is meant to make people think about domestic violence by displaying national and local statistics about the issue.

"A lot of people, I think, feel far removed from it, and hopefully this will get people to notice that it's out there," Pruis said. "Hopefully it will make them think 'Hey, you don't have to go through this, you don't have to do this, you can report it.'"

Matt Rombach, president of Men Against Sexual Violence and junior in LAS, said he hopes the structure will help raise awareness about the seriousness of domestic violence.

The large blue structure informs students that "more women go to the emergency room for domestic violence than for rape, muggings and auto accidents combined, 40 percent of teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend, and 4,000 women and children are beaten to death every year (in this country)."

Also on the structure is a place for people to share their reactions, reflections or personal stories.

Volunteers stand near the structure handing out purple ribbons that symbolize remembrance and support for victims of domestic violence.

Lori Dieterle, a sophomore in business and president of Campus for Choice, said domestic violence is an issue that affects both men and women.

"A lot of people know about (domestic violence), but no one knows how close it is to them," Dieterle said.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Web site, people who are abusing their partners might embarrass them in front of friends and family, put down their goals and accomplishments, make them feel as though they are unable to make decisions and use intimidation or threats to gain compliance.