SU holds Survivors Panel for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

On Wednesday, the PAGE Center at Shippensburg University held a Survivors Panel in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

A group of professors, services and mental health professionals spoke about their experiences with domestic and intimate partner violence to further the awareness and information about abusive behaviors.

October is a month dedicated to domestic violence awareness. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 1.5 million women are assaulted physically or intimately by their partners, and 800,000 men have experienced abuse.

Misty Knight, director of the Women and Gender Studies Program, stood before the panel as a moderator. She asked questions about their experiences, information and knowledge about domestic and intimate partner violence.

Nancy Chavez is a survivor of domestic violence. In 2003, her daughter Randi died from domestic violence. Due to the experiences that both she and her daughter had, she created “Randi’s House of Angels” in order to bring awareness and support to victims and survivors.

“I consider myself an advocate. It took me a while through my grieving process to really move forward from my daughter’s murder,” Chavez said. “No person should be treated disrespectfully, and I say to you that it starts with you.”

Knight asked the panel what its motivation was to speak on behalf of domestic violence awareness. Licensed psychologist at SU Veena Palmeri said that she had two motivating factors for speaking alongside other individuals of the panel.

“The first is the compassion that I feel for survivors, and the second is the anger that I feel when I think about all of the ways that they have been destroyed because of someone else’s actions,” Palmeri said. “I’m angry that we still live in a world where it continues to happen, and my reason for being here today is to, again, raise awareness.”

The Criminal Justice Department at SU offers a victimology course for students to learn about the importance of assisting and advocating for survivors and victims of domestic and intimate partner violence. Melissa Ricketts, SU professor of criminal justice, also offered SU students the ability to gain a Victim Services Certificate.

“Domestic violence thrives in silence,” Ricketts said. “The power of one is a very powerful thing. Be empathetic, be caring, walk your friend to the PAGE Center for help or support, help them look up resources or drive them to a center or a shelter. Be that person. It only takes one, and that one person can be you.”

In addition, the panel was accompanied by YWCA Director of Support Services Angela Long and WIN Victim Services Direct Services Supervisor Eric Williams.

Williams became passionate about helping victims of abuse for several reasons, one of them being that his friend from college transferred to a different school due to domestic violence.

“This is a big issue in all communities that is a health risk for a lot of women that needs to be addressed,” Williams said.

Both Long and Williams dedicated their lives to counseling, managing, providing resources and supporting victims and survivors of domestic and intimate partner abuse. They have spent their careers aiming to make a difference in the lives of those who have been taken advantage of.

Long said, “This is such an important topic, and it is so important to bring awareness and start talking about things from the prevention end so that I don’t have a job anymore. I can’t wait for the day that my services are not needed.”

Megan Luft, SU vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing, discussed her experiences with domestic violence on the panel. She is a survivor of domestic violence. In addition to her career, she is also an advocate.

“Talk to your friends; talk to your family,” Luft said. “It is amazing that we now can talk about it a lot more.”

While speaking about leaving a domestically violent relationship, SU social work Professor Jayleen Galarza said, “Sometimes there’s this false understanding of ‘Well, just leave. When you leave, it’s all better.’ Although it definitely is a relief, and there’s good aspects to that, the reality is for some people, the impacts still happen.”

Shippensburg University has constructed an “It’s On Us” pledge drive as a commitment to end domestic and intimate partner violence. The PAGE Center, along with several other organizations on campus, have become involved with the vision.

“SU is committed to supporting victims and survivors, and we are working for the prevention and culture change. Shippensburg University and the administration supports the ‘It’s On Us’ pledge drive,” said Lorie Sheetz, vice president of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “We are encouraging you to do so if you haven’t already.”

Maya Bennett, president of Panhellenic Council (NPC), joined the Interfraternity Council (IFC) to discuss the actions they have been taking to minimize domestic and intimate partner violence within fraternities and sororities, as well as SU’s campus. They have collected signatures and pledges for the ‘It’s On Us’ pledge drive.

“It takes nothing to be kind. It [costs] nothing to be empathetic to their situation,” Palmeri said.

For more information, help and access to campus resources, please contact the sources listed below.

PAGE Center: 717-477-1790

Counseling Center: 717-477-1481

Office of Title IX: 717-477-1323

SU Police Department: 717-447-1444

Organizations outside of campus resources that are available can be seen below.

YWCA Carlisle: 717-258-4324 or YWCACARLISLE.org

Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties (DVSCP): 717-258-4249 or DVSCP.org

WIN Services: 717-264-4444 or WINSERVICES.org

Randi’s House of Angels Podcast about Domestic Violence:

https://randishouseofangels.org/podcasts/