ATHENS– The Athens State University Student Organization of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will host the 2nd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Program and Walk Thursday, October 27 starting at 5 p.m. at the Athens State Carter Gymnasium. The theme for this year’s event is “Together We Can Combat Domestic Violence.” Camo attire is requested but optional.
“There are countless victims and survivors of domestic violence all over the world,” said Dr. Wanda Humphrey, AAUW advisor. “It does not discriminate. Most people think of slapping, hitting, kicking and other physical attacks when they hear the words domestic violence, but it is much more than that. Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, and even isolation are forms of violence.”
AAUW will also host a domestic violence conference the first Saturday in December. Dr. Humphrey, AAUW members, and Mrs. Sharita Jenkins of Crisis Services of North Alabama are planning this event. The purpose of the conference is to empower victims and survivors as well as educate high school students so that they will know what violence looks like when it is not physical.
Humphrey added, “We want to educate the citizens of the community and give male and female victims a voice as they engage in a day of workshops and fun. Our walk is a timely reminder that, as a country, we should not stop advocating against domestic violence until there is zero tolerance for any form of abuse of women and men (Men are victims also). After the October 27 program, we will walk from Beasley Field to downtown Athens and back – a route of about one mile. We want to make a collective statement that domestic violence is not welcome in Limestone County and North Alabama.”
Both events are free to the public. They are sponsored by the AAUW and Crisis Services of North Alabama.
For more information contact Dr. Humphrey at Wanda.Humphrey@athens.edu.
Media Release/Athens State University/Guy McClure
