Anti-violence rally, speech kick off week

Aiming to prevent violence against women on campus and in the world at-large, the University kicked off its first Domestic Violence/Dating Abuse Awareness Week yesterday with a rally, workshop and keynote speaker. The day began with a lunchtime rally on College Green, which was jointly organized by College Democrats and Republicans. It was followed by a violence against women workshop presented by Gloria Gay, associate director of the Penn Women's Center. "The people here this week have so much expertise," said College sophomore Mary Jane Lee, president of the University's National Organization for Women chapter. "I'm so glad we could pull them all together." Last night, in the week's first keynote speech, Pennsylvania NOW Vice President Kathy Miller discussed bringing together the various issues surrounding domestic violence. Barbara DiTullio, Pennsylvania NOW president, was originally slated to speak, but laryngitis kept her from the podium. Miller's remarks focused on the causes and responses to domestic violence, in addition to current political advocacy efforts directed toward the protection of abuse victims. She explained that domestic violence is not a new phenomenon, but one that has existed for "centuries" as a result of sexism. It is more recognizable now, however, because women have organized to ensure their rights, Miller said. "As people's lives get harder, they lash out more," she added. "Women and children become victims. "Domestic violence won't disappear unless in the larger context we take on male-female inequality," Miller said. Because the boundaries of acceptable behavior are unclear at times, Miller said, women feel outraged and at the same time overly reactive when confronted with situations of harassment or abuse. Miller discussed legislative initiatives facing national and state lawmakers and directed at violence against women – urging those in attendance to write to their representatives and senators at the table which will be on Locust Walk later this week. Audience members said Miller's remarks showed them sides of the domestic violence problem they had not previously considered. Social Work graduate student Kelly Bisiada said she found Miller's speech "powerful." "I think that in our time period, with all the things women are enduring and have endured, it's very important for everyone – men and women – to be very aware of the issues that affect and continue to affect women," she said. "Workshops such as these are a wonderful start." According to graduate student Anu Sharma, the week's founder, programming is co-sponsored by the University's American Medical Students' Association chapter and student groups such as Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape, Connaissance and the campus chapter of NOW. She added that the forums and lectures which will be presented this week will approach domestic violence from medical, political and legal perspectives. Today's Awareness Week events will include volunteer counselor training from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Ben Franklin Room of Houston Hall and a workshop on fraternity gang rape led by Anthropology Professor and author Peggy Sanday from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Bowl Room. A program highlighting the health professional's response to domestic violence and a student-run seminar on interpersonal violence will both be held in Bodek Lounge, beginning at 5 p.m.