Men and women rally to raise awareness about domestic abuse
Kurt Oberreither
-News Editor-
Kelly Glueck
-Managing Editor-
On Wednesday, March 28, women took back the night by a safely marching through the streets of Kirkwood in order to silence domestic abuse and empower the victims of sexual violence. The women rallied at Kirkwood Station and marched with their fists in the air to STLCC-Meramec.
“Ain’t I a woman,” Rita Reinhardt cheered, paying respect to Women’s Rights activist Sojourner Truth. “Yes I am,” the crowd of females equipped with hand-drawn signs replied.
More than 40 men and women participated in the first Take Back the Night event held on campus. The event was part of Voices Against Violence, a weeklong series organized by the Diversity Committee for Women’s History Month and supported by the Women’s History Committee.
“This is increasingly important because it is not only an issue for students, but for all women,” Reinhardt said.
Each year 132,000 women report that they have been victims of rape or attempted rape and more than half of them knew their attackers; it is estimated that 2-6 times that many are raped but don’t report it, according to the National Organization of Women.
“I think girls put up with it because they don’t really have good role models in their lives. They are just looking for love in all the wrong places. They are overpowered by men and feel weak and trapped,” Meramec student Keisha Louis said.
While the women marched, the men gathered on campus to discuss media portrayal of relationships and gender roles. Communications Professor Christopher Smejkal presented video clips and statistics.
“Because men commit most of the violent acts this is not just a women’s issue,” Smejkal said. “Ninety-seven percent of violence is caused by men, and three women die every day from their male partners.”
STLCC head baseball coach Tony Dattoli required the baseball team to attend the event.
“Our future depends quite a bit on women,” baseball player Patrick King said. “Women are the creatures that hold the key to birth.”
Communications Professor Denise Sperruzza offered extra credit to those from her class who attended the event.
“I knew it was a problem, but I didn’t realize how big it was,” oral communications student Mike Scheider said. “I think it could be a bigger problem if nobody does anything about it.”
According to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
One attendee, student Heather Elliott, was in a six-year abusive relationship.
“Eventually it became too much,” Elliott said. “One day I just woke up and realized it wasn’t worth it. It made me realize that there are too many other things to think about – good things that make me happy. It just wasn’t worth it.”
