By: Briana Scafidi
Posted In: News
Photo credit: rit.edu
Hearts all over the world have been breaking since the week before Valentine’s Day. As news sources release more information about the Feb. 7, 2009 incident between teen heartthrob Chris Brown and his superstar girlfriend Rihanna, AIM away messages and Facebook statuses have changed to “Chris, how could you?” and fans around the world have offered kind words of support for Rihanna on various blogs.
So what about your best friend, your roommate, your sister or your classmate? If gossip columns and news sources aren’t talking about whether she’s being abused by someone she loves, how are you supposed to know? Globally, one in three women will experience violence at some point in her life, and according to the American Bar Association, approximately 1.3 million women are abused by an intimate partner in the United States annually. One in eight women is the victim of rape during her college years. These statistics are startling enough, but cases of rape and domestic abuse often go unreported. Violence against women is an issue everywhere, throughout every race, culture and social class. It happens every day, yet overall we have seemed blind to it until it happened to someone we love. That is, it happened to someone we love to watch on TV and listen to on the radio, someone we will never actually know. This month, a group of students is opening the eyes of the Salve community by promoting the celebration of V-Day. Volunteers Invested in Reaching and Guiding Others (VIRGO) set up camp in O’Hare all day on Wednesday, February 18, to celebrate the global holiday (usually celebrated on Valentine’s Day), whose aim is to end violence against women and girls. Group members were clad in red t-shirts, the fronts of which stated “I am your girlfriend,” “I am your sister,” and “I am your mother,” to help passing students realize the impact of rape and abuse, and understand that it can and probably has happened to someone they love. On their way to class, students stopped to sign a poster stating that they supported the mission of V-Day. A life-sized cutout of a 23-year-old woman, faceless and painted red, stood next to the table. Her story was written on a plaque on her chest. She was shot five times and killed by her fiancé after calling off their engagement. As students stood alarmed, VIRGO members explained the cutout was only one of the countless, faceless victims of abuse and violence against women. They explained the purpose of V-Day and handed out cards with information about sexual harassment, rape and domestic violence, as well as on- and off-campus resources for dealing with crises. The celebration of victory over violence (V-Day) began in 1998 with the first performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” Since then the cause has expanded globally and has recently been celebrated in high schools and colleges across the country. “Awareness is the first step in stopping violence against women,” said VIRGO member Beth Bjorklund. “If we know about its frequency and seriousness, we can protect ourselves from becoming victims and help our friends who are or have been abused.” VIRGO’s President, Ashley Martins, echoes Bjorklund’s sentiment, and says that she hopes the group’s message has reached at least one person. “No matter how many people love you or want to help you,” Martins said, “as a victim of relationship abuse or rape you have to want to help yourself.” Martins suggests that anyone who wants to talk about problems in their relationship, concern for a friend, or other troubles, should contact Liz Minifie or another member of counseling services. Until the violence stops, V-Day and VIRGO are dedicated to spreading the word about the seriousness of rape and abuse. “I think it’s very touching that so many people care about and support Rihanna,” Martins said. “But imagine if we could give that support to every single victim. Just by understanding and offering to listen and help in any way we can, we are making a huge difference.”
