Resource Center aims to show importance, unite

by Jill Yaworski, staff writer

James Madison University’s Women Resource Center is holding various activities throughout October to observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Virginia, highlighting the importance of the issue.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first observed in October 1987 to unite those working to end violence against women and their children.

According to Maribel Gadams, assistant director of the Women’s Resource Center, women between the ages of 16 to 24 are at the highest risk of dating and domestic violence. Gadams believes this is why the WRC is adamant about creating awareness concerning the topic at JMU.

“Young women are in new relationships and are on their own for the first time without any parental influence when they go away to college,” Gadams said.  “Many are unsure how to make a healthy relationship, or even what a healthy relationship consists of.”

Battering causes the most injury to women, ranking above rape, Gadams said, and is the number one reason women report to emergency rooms across the nation. 

Tuesday, Oct. 18 and Thursday, Oct. 20, WRC volunteers will be on the commons collecting nonperishable food items to benefit the battered women’s shelter First Steps. Anyone who contributes to the collection will receive a bracelet that says “Speak Out Against Domestic Violence.”

On Oct. 26, the WRC will be holding a brown bag program session “Shattering Misconceptions of Dating Violence: Why Women Stay, the Myths and Facts.” The session will be held from 12:15 to  1:15 p.m. 

‘When Love Hurts: Dating Violence’ is a WRC evening presentation on Oct. 27 held in Transitions at 7p.m.. According to Gadams, the presentation will be geared towards informing people of exactly what makes a relationship unhealthy, including the signs of abusive relationships and typical perpetrators. 

Members of JMU’s One in Four will be participating in the Oct. 27 WRC presentation of “When Love Hurts: Dating Violence.” One in Four’s graduate assistant John Dewall said One in Four wanted to get involved with the events of domestic violence awareness month because it is part of the club’s mission to continue increasing awareness.  The members will help Gadams throughout the presentation by role playing and serving as the male perspective.

“The fact that one in four women will be a victim of rape or sex assault is shocking in itself, and domestic violence plays a huge role in that,” Dewall said.   “Domestic violence is something that exists but is difficult to be okay with.  We hope that by spreading awareness about it we will eventually change things.”