William Kelly
Staff Writer
Jackson State University continues its efforts to promote domestic violence awareness and prevention with several events taking place during the month of October.
According to the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner.
On Oct. 22, the Jackson State University Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) partnered with the Latasha Norman Center to host a domestic violence awareness forum: Brutal Love: The Perspective of a Man and Woman.
Robin Jackson, Miss NAACP and a junior political science major from Jackson, Miss., stated: “I believe domestic violence awareness is important because it is a big issue our society deals with yet it is swept under a rug as if there is no issue. The male and female perspectives are influential because they show that victims and abusers can be male or female and domestic violence is not gender based,” said Jackson. “It also shows students how to be aware of signs of abuse from both male and female and how to react to those circumstances.”
Creating a comfortable atmosphere for the audience, the speakers who are students at JSU shared their experiences with domestic violence from the male and female perspectives.
The first speaker, Elizabeth Taylor, a sophomore psychology major from Raymond, Miss., shared her domestic violence experience from “A Daughter’s Perspective.” After witnessing her mother being abused, Taylor related to the audience the affects domestic violence has on her and her relationships. She stated that a victim can only be helped if they want the help.
Following Taylor’s presentation, Bruce Kitchens, a junior criminal justice major, reached out to males as he described his experiences of being domestically abused by his ex-wife. Kitchens, who was shot in the back by his ex-wife, stated that he did not receive justice in court.
Kitchens hopes that his courage to speak out will encourage more men who have been abused in relationships to share their story and not be concerned with pride.
According to The Hotline.org, more than 1 in 4 men, 28.5% in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Henry Goss, president of the JSUNAACP and junior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss., stated that emphasis should be placed on both men and women victims of domestic violence.
“By having both perspectives presented, the audience was able to have a full view of how domestic violence affects both sides,” said Goss. “Domestic violence awareness is very important for students because we must know how to properly interact with our relationship partners and realize that violence should never find its way into any relationship.”
A domestic violence awareness forum titled ‘Survive Celebrate Connect’ was held on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the JSU Student Center, Ballroom B. A balloon release was held in front of the Student Center preceding the event.
The forum was sponsored by the Bachelor of Social Work Program Student Association and co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice and Sociology Department, the Art Department, the Latasha Norman Center, the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities, and the Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Shonda Lawrence, Department Chair of the Undergraduate Social Work Program, believes the forum is very important because Mississippi is ranked 2nd highest in the nation for domestic violence.
“It’s important for Mississippi because we really need to be looking at making people aware of statistics. Today the Mississippi Domestic Violence Coalition has been focused on having men to stand-up and fight for domestic violence awareness and to say that it is wrong. We want to get rid of it being a woman’s issue and focus on it being a people issue, societal issue, community and family issue,” said Lawrence.
Lawrence encourages anyone who may be a victim to seek help from the Latasha Norman Center.
“There’s a quote online that I like to look at and it says if a person pushes you, restrains you, mistreats you, calls you out of your name and or mentally attacks you then you need to examine that relationship. When you are in a relationship where you don’t feel good and they devalue you as a person, that’s a toxic relationship,” said Lawrence.
Students have access to counseling and support through the Latasha Norman Center for Counseling which provides assistance with building problem-solving skills, managing relationships and becoming more independent and confident.
Leading the awareness of the issue of domestic violence locally, the center was created in 2007 as a tribute to a JSU student, Latasha Norman, who died as a result of domestic violence.
The center, located in the JSU Student Center on the 2nd floor, provides crisis intervention services; the contact number is 601-979-0374.
Other events to be held in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month include a Domestic Violence Forum hosted by RUF to be held today, Oct. 30, in the Student Center Theater on the 2nd Floor.
On Friday, Oct. 31, the BET College Tour will be held from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. on the Gibbs Green Plaza, Pedestrian Walkway.
Ashton Nash contributed to this story.
