Ashley Cleland of ECU’s Women and Gender Office makes it her mission to help and empower others.

One way she helps college students is providing a safe-haven for students affected by intimate partner violence.

She said students come asking for help more than you think.

In fact, according to loveisrespect.org, females between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, triple the national average.

And nearly half o dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behavior.

Cleland said educating students is the key to prevention.