One in five college relationships is abusive, either emotionally, sexually, or physically, and Alabama was ranked second in 2012 for incidences of men killing women in single-victim homicides.
October is Dating/Domestic Violence Awareness month and the Women’s Resource Center is hosting several different events to bring awareness to an important issue.
The center hosted a Dating and Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil on Tuesday on the steps of Denny Chimes. The vigil honored 24 victims killed by domestic violence in the state of Alabama in 2012. Students were given the chance to learn about domestic violence resources on and around campus.
The Women’s Resource Center has been apart of the University of Alabama since 1993. It is located in the South Lawn Office Building. The purpose is to maximize the learning experience for every student at the University of Alabama and the community in Tuscaloosa. The center uses outreach services and advocacy to empower women and encourage their active and equal participation.
The WRC offers on campus counseling, support groups, academic advocacy and safe housing for victims of domestic and dating violence and their friends and family. They host outreach events to spread awareness of dating violence and available resources.
The center also has the Student Leadership Council, which allows students an opportunity to develop and sharpen their leadership skills through various volunteering opportunities.
Members of the WRC Student Leadership Council were present at the event to offer support for their peers. All members had previously attended a training session about domestic and relationship violence. Michelle de la Gardia, a sophomore majoring in social work, is a member of the council who was present at the vigil.
“I think it’s one of those where everybody has this mindset of ‘it’ll never happen to me.” We’ve heard this so many times before, and this is just 24 of how many victims? This is just 24 of thousands of people, probably on this campus, that could be involved in an abusive relationship,” de la Gardia said.
This is not just a women’s issue; in addition to one in four women, one in nine men are also affected by domestic violence, said the speakers at the vigil.
Jeremy Henderson, the associate director for housing and residential communities, was present at the vigil to emphasize the campus resources available to students who are in volatile or potentially violent relationships.
“Out of cancer and heart disease, domestic violence is the main cause of death among women in the United States,” said Henderson.
Terrence Merkerson, the graduate coordinator at the WRC, said he believes violence in relationships has increased with development of social media. He said continual efforts would be needed to further address domestic violence.
“This can’t be just one event where people get awareness. We have to continue to do outreach and re-educate our people on the dangers of dating and domestic violence,” Merkerson said. “If we don’t bring light to these things then they will continue, at least the center can say that we are doing our part to bring an end to violence against women.”
The mission of the WRC is to empower women and encourage them to have a voice on a wide spectrum of issues. If women do not speak up for themselves, then no one else can.
“Personally, I’m married, and I have two daughters, so there are three women that are very important to me, but I think just by being a human being, we are affected,” Henderson said. “So I’m a member of this community, and sometimes I think we can get a really individualist focus. If something affects one of us, it really affects all of us.”
The center also has an on-site therapist that provides free and confidential individual and group counseling to victims of interpersonal violence and serves the department’s 24-hour on-call program to respond to crisis involving violence against women.
The WRC’s 24-hour on-call program is available every day of the week even on holidays to answer the phone calls of those in need. The center also offers counseling to the perpetrator of domestic violence.
“On average we receive over 100 calls a month to our on-call program,” said Kathy Echols, the staff therapist at the WRC. “I take my phone everywhere with me in order to stay in contact with those that need me the most. I always think that one phone call can save someone’s life.”
The WRC also offers victim advocacy, which offers victims information, emotional support and help finding resources for safety.
All of the services offered at the Women’s Resource Center are free to students on campus and throughout the campus community.
Wanda Burton, peer education coordinator at WRC, believes warning signs of abusive relationships include extreme jealousy, quick involvement, and isolation from friends, a quick temper and general disrespect of others.
“If you know your friend is in abusive relationship, you can continue to be there and offer help and encouragement and resources. We also want to encourage friends of the perpetrator to let their friend know that they’re concerned about them as a well. There are warning signs for both sides of the relationship,” Burton said.
The WRC also works with Verizon’s HopeLine project by asking students and faculty members to donate old cellphones, batteries and accessories to benefit victims of interpersonal violence.
“A phone gives that person that has been a victim the confidence to know that they can contact someone if they want to or if another emergency arises,” said Jessi Hitchins, assistant director at the Women’s Resource Center.
According to the Verizon HopeLine website, “wireless phones and technology can serve as a vital link to emergency or support services in a time of crisis or a as a reliable, safe connection to employers, family and friends as survivors rebuild their lives.”
The WRC sends the devices to Verizon for processing; in exchange for the donation of the phones Verizon will give the WRC a grant to continue its work serving the Tuscaloosa community.
The center is in charge of several volunteer and leadership initiatives throughout the school year. It also provides the University and the community with events such As Elect Her, Take Back The Night, and Unscripted. Elect Her provides training for women to help them gain longevity in leadership positions. This initiative is a full continuum of programming to empower females from high school onward to view themselves as great political candidates. Take Back The Night is a rally and a march that is designed to bring awareness ending violence against women. This event is generally held during the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Survivors come and share their stories and discuss their personal experiences with sexual abuse. Unscripted is a group of graduate and undergraduate students that have a commitment to educate their peers on various issues that are related to interpersonal violence and other forms of oppression.
The Women’s Resource Center also teams up with other organizations on campus to bring awareness and keep the University informed. Organizations include Alpha Chi Omega, Judicial Affairs, the PanHellenic Association, and the department of gender and race studies.
Other programs offered at the WRC include the Young Women’s and Men’s Leadership program. These leadership programs provide students with leadership skills that they are capable of using in their daily lives. The YWLP is a current recipient of the University of Alabama Caritas Award for Service. The leadership program is a year long mentoring program that is sponsored by the University and the focus of the programs is to help middle school girls and boys establish leadership abilities by using their three pillars competence, connection, and autonomy.
“We are committed to making a change in any way that we can,” said Holli Frey, a senior at the University and a third year intern at the Women’s Resource Center. “We believe hosting various events will bring awareness to these issues and it is an amazing way to embark a change on campus.”
#madethis #TourStories #Dreamville
#madethis #DreamVille #TourStories
