el Don / SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY , NOVEMBER 10 , 2014 / eldonnews . org
TACKLING THE UNSPEAKABLE
LAURA ’ S HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE EDUCATES CAMPUS COMMUNITY ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT AN EVENT COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR
BY CHELSEA YBANEZ / el Don
SANCTUARY / Marissa Presley recounts the story of Laura , a domestic violence victim who died at the hands of her husband , at Santa Ana College on Oct . 30 . / Adrian Gonzalez / el Don
Finding her in a pool of her own blood , paramedics rushed Laura to the hospital . Her body was disfigured with bruised and broken flesh . Though autopsy reports never determined a cause of death , her broken ribs , collapsed lung and brain hemorrhage were the results of abuse at the hands of her husband . Laura did not live through the night . “ Domestic violence doesn ’ t begin with a shove or a punch . It begins with ‘ just shut up .’ Those three little words are the seed to domestic violence ,” Marissa Presley , a prevention educator for domestic violence , said .
Laura is one of 16,800 fatalities stemming from domestic violence in America each year . It is one of the most underreported crimes with 1.5 million people battered yearly , according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence . The rate of violence experienced by females between the ages of 16 to 24 is triple the national average , according to loveisrespect . org .
A third of them never tell anyone about being abused . “ There are a lot of people that stay quiet , and when they stay quiet , it ’ s too late ,” student Brian Bautista said .
The story of Laura ’ s death was recounted to students during a seminar hosted by the Communication Studies Club .
Marissa Presley was invited to address the difficult and harrowing topic Oct . 30 at Santa Ana College .
Presley works at Laura ’ s House , a county-funded shelter designed for women and teens seeking to escape abusive relationships . A group of women from the South Orange County Domestic Violence Committee founded the shelter in 1994 . Since its establishment , more than 3,000 women and children have received support and services . “ I don ’ t like to call them all victims . Even if you ’ re still living in an environment like that , you ’ re still surviving . So you ’ re a survivor ,” Presley said .
Warning signs are not always obvious , she continued . Presley referred to specific character traits that potential abusers exhibit and said identifying them early in a relationship can help prevent becoming a victim . “ If we are able to recognize when it is right in front of us , we will be able to walk away a lot quicker than if we were to ignore it ,” said Presley . “ Jealousy is the No . 1 red flag to look for in an abuser . It ’ s consistent . It ’ s interrogations . Those are the ones that are dangerous .”
Other red flags include acts of manipulation , guilt and intimidation .
Fear , low self-esteem , financial instability and threats often bind the victim to their abuser , Presley said It ’ s not always women who suffer , either . More than 25 percent of men have experienced rape , violence or stalking by a partner , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports .
Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds , genders and education levels . It can happen to anyone of any race , age , sexual orientation , religion or gender , Presley said .
Children are also victims , even if only through witnessing violence secondhand . “ Little girls that grow up in a domestic violence home right now in America are 10 times more likely to be sexually abused . They weren ’ t given a chance ,” Presley said .
Boys who witness abuse are twice as likely to reflect that behavior towards future partners and children , according to the NCADV .
The first step in getting out of an abusive relationship is asking for help .
Resources offered through SAC ’ s Health and Wellness Center aid victims in leaving their partners , said Phi Loan Le , training director from Psychological Services . “ Safety is a priority , making sure that there is a safety plan and helping the survivor find the resources there to help them ,” Le said . “ It ’ s a process .”
The idea for the seminar came up last year as the Communication Studies Club brainstormed ways to convey this weighty topic to students . The club ’ s vice president , David Gonzalez , is creating a documentary about domestic abuse , which will be released next year . “ We are here to be a voice for the voiceless . I began to realize I relate to these victims and this is how my life is . Now that I know , it ’ s helping me to reach out to other people , so here I am ,” Gonzalez said .
On campus , there have been a number of other events addressing domestic violence . Laura ’ s House hosted a visual project last month featuring shirts made by victims .
In October , a clothing drive for Domestic Violence Awareness Month honored Kesha Curtis , a SAC professor killed by her husband in 2011 . “ We are hoping we make a difference . If not for them , it ’ s for someone they know ,” Vera Holder , Communication Studies Club advisor , said .
THE FACE OF
Violence PART THREE IN A SERIES
Domestic violence costs about $ 37 million a year in law enforcement , legal work , medical and mental health treatment .
4
million women are raped or assaulted by their intimate partners each year .
3
million a year , mostly women and children , are battered by intimate partners and parents
1.5
million a year , mostly women and children , are battered by intimate partners and parents
Source : Safe Horizon
NEWS
el Don / SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY , NOVEMBER 10 , 2014 / eldonnews . org
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