JSU community supports domestic violence awareness
William H. Kelly III
Associate Editor
Jackson State University transitioned from pink to purple as the university prepared to promote domestic violence awareness across the campus.
While JSU organizations bring awareness at the end of October and throughout November, October is the actual month for domestic violence awareness, according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV).
According to NRCDV, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level.
The first official event, the ‘Men Hurt Too’ forum, was held on Oct. 29 in the Student Center Ballrooms. The event was hosted by the Latasha Norman Center for Counseling (LNC) in conjunction with the Delta Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Psi Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., and the Alpha Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
The campus has also shown efforts to bring awareness of domestic violence with its well known fountains in front of the H.T. Sampson Library by coloring the water purple.
Students at JSU stand strongly against domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is NOT okay! I do not and will not ever agree to it being okay to express your anger through inflicting pain on your partner. That is not love. I stand up and spread awareness against domestic violence to be a voice for those who cant be the voice for themselves, and to let them know I love them enough to sat it’s not okay,” said Diamond McCray, a junior political science major from Magnolia, Miss.
The LNC offers students counseling and assistance with incidents of domestic violence in relationships by hosting a variety of events on the campus of JSU.
The center is named in honor of former JSU student, Latasha Norman, who died as a result of domestic violence in 2007.
Shanice Banks-White, therapist, licensed professional counselor at the Latasha Norman Center stressed the importance of the center.
“We just try to bring awareness to Latasha Norman who was a junior accounting major here at Jackson State University who lost her life as a result to domestic violence. We’re just trying to keep her legacy alive, bring awareness to those who have survived domestic violence situations as well as others who have lost their lives due to domestic violence,” said Banks-White. “We bring awareness to those who may be in current domestic violence situations to let them know that there is a way out and we provide counseling services to help those to improve self-esteem.”
For students eager to assist JSU in spreading awareness of domestic violence, the Latasha Norman Center and the Division of Academic and Student Affairs will be hosting its 8th Annual Latasha Norman 5K Run/Walk; A Celebration of Life: Putting an End to Domestic Violence on Nov. 14. Students and community partners interested in participating can register and pay online at 10.14.12.245/marketplace with the keyword: Latasha. Registration the day of the race begins at 7 a.m. at the Student Center.
All photos by William H. Kelly III.
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