Sandy Frazier, left, and Steve Darby, right, leave their handprint, along with those from members of Western Carolina University's Interfraternity Council, on a "These Hands Won't Hurt" poster. The poster, created by men opposed to physical abuse, was displayed at a rally at the Justice and Administration Building Oct. 16 highlighting October as Domestic and Relationship Violence Awareness Month. - Herald photo by Marina Robbins
In observance of October as Domestic and Relationship Violence Awareness Month, a Take Back the Night rally will be held on the Hinds University Center lawn at Western Carolina University Wednesday, Oct. 30. The event will host a variety of informative activities dealing with domestic and relationship violence. A Resource and Information Fair beginning at 7 p.m. on the UC lawn will include campus and community services that deal with domestic and relationship violence and sexual assault. Among those who will be present from Western's campus are the Women's Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Brother Peace, an organization dedicated to stopping men's violence against women. REACH of Jackson County will be on hand to provide information about their crisis line and other services available in the community. The rally against relationship violence will begin at 7:30 p.m. Featured speakers include Kathleen Balogh, Western Region director of the N.C. Council for Women/Domestic Violence Commission, and attorney Sybil Mann, director of the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance. The evening will conclude with a candlelight vigil dedicated to commemorating the more than 40 murdered victims of domestic and relationship violence in North Carolina this year. The Clothesline Project, a nationwide, grassroots movement that bears witness to the violence people experience, will be part of the rally. Survivors, their friends and their allies are invited to create shirts as a means of providing a safe and therapeutic forum for people to speak out about abuse. Supporters hope the project helps to educate the public about the extent, prevalence and the impact of violence. Information on obtaining a shirt to decorate for the project is available through WCU's Women's Center at 227-3982. The completed shirts will be on display at the Hinds University Center beginning Monday, Oct. 28, and running through the rally on Oct. 30. Sponsors for the Clothesline Project are the Women's Center, Brotherpeace, Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and the Student Government Association. |