The Everywoman’s Center commenced Domestic Violence Awareness month yesterday on the University of Massachusetts’ Campus Center steps with its “Hands Are Not for Hurting” campaign. The slogan will be advertised throughout the month in an effort to raise campus awareness and stop domestic violence.
Students, faculty and community service organizations met yesterday at 12 p.m. to show their support for victims of domestic violence by putting their hands in paint and placing them on a 12 ft. canvas banner, reinforcing the “Hands Are Not for Hurting” slogan. Participants were also asked to sign a pledge vowing that they will not hurt or be aggressive towards others.
According to the Everywoman’s Center, domestic violence is an epidemic. Every day, at least three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends, and approximately 1.5 million women and 835,000 men are raped and/or physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States. In addition, one in four gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) people are battered by a partner. The Everywoman’s Center’s goal for this event, and this month, is to work towards building a community that has zero tolerance for violence and abuse.
“We just wanted people to come out and participate and make that personal commitment,” said Ben Ostiguy, who works for the Everywoman’s Center and helped arrange this event. “There were quite a few people who sat down and listened to the event and at least 50 people made handprints.”
La Wanza Lett-Brewington, director of community education at Everywoman’s Center, who emceed the event, read the names of Western Mass. victims within the last 10 years. Other speakers included: Domestic Violence Activist Yoko Kato; UMass Athletics Director Ian McCaw; UMass Professor Steve Jefferson, who is the Group Facilitator with the Men Overcoming Violence Program of the Men’s Resource Center of Western Massachusetts; UMass Chief of Police Barbara O’Connor; Sonny Suchdev, Community Development and Programs Coordinator Graduate Assistant in the Office of Alana Affairs at UMass; Director of the UMass Women’s Studies Department Arlene Avakian; and Steve Trudel, Intake Coordinator for Men Overcoming Violence (MOVE), which is operated through the Men’s Resource Center of Western Massachusetts.
Other events being put on by the Center in relation to Domestic Violence Awareness Month will be taking place throughout the month including a theatre performance by Reanae McNeal, who Ostiguy claims is “outstanding.” McNeal will also be hosting a workshop called, “The Art of Storytelling,” which will teach interested people how to incorporate the arts into social justice, counseling, educational, human rights and civil rights work. For additional events, contact the Everywoman’s Center at 545-0833.
Ostiguy encourages other interested students to stop by the Campus Center on Tuesday through Thursday throughout October to add to the “Hands Are Not for Hurting” banner by placing their handprint on it. Students can also become involved in other ways by contacting the Everywoman’s Center at 545-2586. Students that need to speak with a crisis counselor can call the hotline at 545-0800.
