2008 Woodie Awards
Awareness is key in preventing domestic violence
By Mike Mallory
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Opinion
|
This week is Domestic Violence Awareness Week, an important week because everyone, not just women, need to know about domestic violence. Face it. Most of the men on this campus will get married someday, or may be dating right now. Even though the week is geared towards what women can do, men need to be prepared, too. When something happens to your loved one, it affects you just as much. That's why awareness is important.
Part of awareness, however, is letting the proper authorities know what is going on. Secrecy in this instance is not helpful, no matter how painful an experience is to share. About 90 percent of cases concerning date rape, abuse, etc. go unreported to the authorities. Help can't be provided to those who need it if the proper people don't know about it, which can also be called a lack of awareness.
Pursuing these criminals through the court system makes other people aware of what is going on and how serious the problem can be. If harsher punishments are administered, other people may be convinced to think twice about abuse.
And if people are getting abused and want to keep it a secret, here's some advice.
Tell somebody.
Life's too short to be spent having other people control everything you do under the threat of physical punishment. Letting other people become aware of your problems often can be the first step for help. And that's part of why Domestic Violence Awareness Week is important to this campus. Even if one person becomes more aware and takes a stand, the week can be viewed as a success. Why? Because that one person can tell others who may be in difficult situations, and help get a resolution that is pain-free for everybody.
That's why at The Rocket, we feel that people should pay attention to the surroundings among them, while taking action if needed. You may thank yourself someday that you did.
