February to address domestic violence
Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 11:27AM By Amanda Phipps
Hitting, forcing sexual acts and controlling behavior are all signs that a relationship may be unhealthy.
This year is the first with a whole month dedicated to the awareness of teen-dating violence, according to the teen violence prevention project Web site.
Teen-dating violence can include emotional, physical or sexual aspects, wellness coordinator Nichole Scaglione said.
“It’s a power struggle in relationships,” she said.
There are some signs people should look for to see if their relationship is unhealthy, counselor Anita Wallace said.
Some signs to look for include if a person physically harms their partner, threatens to harm them or their loved ones or threatens to hurt themselves, Wallace said.
Controlling actions can also be a sign of teen-dating violence, Wallace said.
“(If people) feel like they need to be careful about what they say or walk on egg shells to not anger their partner, that could be a sign (of violence),” she said. “It is also a sign if a person feels afraid of their partner.”
There are resources on and off campus for students who feel victimized in their relationships, Scaglione said.
“Our first concern is the students’ safety,” she said. “We make sure students are connected with the right resources.”
Unfortunately, some students do not come forward with problems they are dealing with in their relationships, Scaglione said.
“A lot of students in abusive relationships don’t come forward,” she said. “Either they don’t recognize (the signs) or do not want to admit it to themselves.”
Safe Passages is an organization that also offers counseling and support groups for victims, victim advocate Caren Huitt said.
Safe Passages is also a shelter for men, women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Victims can call Safe Passages and talk to someone who is on call 24/7 to get help or get connected to the resources they need, Huitt said.
Crawford also offers students up to 10 free counseling sessions on campus, Wallace said.
Huitt said that the most important thing to remember is that the victims are not at fault.
“A lot of teens think they deserve it or did something to cause it,” she said, “But it is not their fault.”
