Domestic violence speaker visits campus, teaches facts

Everyday in the United States, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends according to domesticviolencestatistics.org.

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive and coercive behavior used to gain power and control over an intimate partner, former partner,or family member.

According to the Willow Domestic Violence Center, the abuse may be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, spiritual, economical, and/or financial.

The Willow Domestic Violence Center is an empowerment-based agency that provides a 24-hour crisis line, a safe house, an advocacy program, weekly support groups, and a community education program. All services they offer and free and confidential.

“We want to help people that is our over all goal,” Melissa, representative from the Willow Domestic Violence Center said. “We want victims to feel safe and like they have somebody to talk to.”

The causes of domestic violence are from learned behaviors. In fact, men who, as children, witnessed their parents’ in a domestic violence relationship were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents, according to domesticviolencestatistics.org.

“Domestic violence is a very scary thing and shouldn’t be handled lightly,” Melissa said.

Although domestic violence is more common to happen to women, men can experience it as well.

“Society requires men to present a strong face making it less likely for them to verbalize that they have been in a domestic violence relationship where the girl was causing the violence,” Melissa said.

Males are more likely to report being the perpetrators of sexual violence, whereas girls were more likely to report being the perpetrators of physical violence according to Melissa.

With the help of the school counselor Donna Washington, Melissa came to campus to talk about domestic violence in honor of October being Domestic Violence awareness month.

Students were educated on domestic violence and after the presentation were able to make handkerchiefs to raise awareness of domestic violence.

Sophomore Sierra Herndon sophomore attended the event and thought it was very informative.

“This is something that needs to be talked about,” Herndon said. “I was shocked when I heard three woman a day die from domestic violence.”

Herndon was not the only student who was shocked by this fact. This and other facts he heard at the presentation, also surprised senior Cody Parks senior.

“Many people don’t realize they are in a domestic violence relationship so bringing something like this to campus is something that will open peoples eyes,” Parks said.

Domestic Violence victims might be scared to leave because of threats of violence, blame/guilt, isolation, money, children, employment/education, transportation, fear, love and hope for a change.

The best you can do for someone you know who is involved in a domestic violence relationship is to approach them about it in a non- blaming way, ask instead of telling them what to do, listen and provide them information so they can make their own decisions.

If you are involved in a domestic violence relationship and need help getting out the Willow Domestic Violence Center has a 24-hour hotline: 1.800.770.3030. They have an office in Ottawa as well as in Lawrence.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, no one deserves to live a life in fear,” Melissa said.