Tech teams with Lubbock WPS to promote a Week Without Violence

Texas Tech departments and student organizations kicked off the Week Without Violence Monday to promote National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Week Without Violence, in conjunction with Lubbock Women's Protective Services, is sponsored by Tech Women's Studies, Student Counseling Center, Center for Campus Life, Student Union and Actives, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, Apha Chi Omega, Student Health Services, Athletics, Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, University Student Housing and the Employee Assistance Program. According to its Web site, Lubbock's WPS was founded in 1978 to create a safe and empowering environment for women, children and families and to eliminate domestic violence. WPS offers free and confidential services, including community education and prevention, rehabilitation of violent family members, intervention programs, a 24-hour crisis hotline, shelter, food, clothing, transportation, support groups, parent education, children's programs, assistance in obtaining legal and social services and employment programs. "We want people to wake up and become aware of domestic violence," said Christina Rhode, a junior anthropology and sociology major from Corpus Christi and a member of the FMLA. "We are trying to get people to volunteer for WPS, get them information about domestic violence and information about how to get help." Fellow FMLA member Ryan Reardon, a sophomore electrical engineering and computer science major from Lubbock, said he believes domestic violence is an important issue not only for women's rights but for human rights. "I don't think there should be violence toward anyone," Reardon said. "Everyone is connected to a woman in some way, and I think if you say you love women, you shouldn't just say it, you should show it because actions speak louder than words." University Housing Services will be collecting donations of nonperishable and toiletry items through Friday to help WPS with "Stock the Shelter." Donation bins are located in the main lobby of each of the Tech housing complexes. WPS personnel will conduct an open seminar at 6 p.m. today in the Brazos Room of the Student Union Building to discuss relationship violence, and Alpha Chi Omega will co-host a candlelight vigil with WPS at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Circle to remember victims, the oppressed and survivors of domestic violence. Esther Lichti, coordinator of women's studies, pointed out domestic abuse, whether its physical, verbal or psychological, can affect everyone. "Domestic violence, or relationship violence, is something that affects people from all walks of life, all races, all ages, men and women, gay or straight," Lichti said. "It's an issue that everyone needs to be aware of." According to the National Coalition Against Human Violence, women between the ages of 16 and 24 years old experience the highest per-capita rates of intimate violence, and 21 percent of college students report they have experienced dating violence by a current partner. The Texas Council on Family violence reported more than 74 percent of all Texans indicate they, a family member, coworker or friend have experienced some sort of domestic violence - sexual, physical or verbal - at some point in their lifetimes, and 49 percent said the abuse was severe. Roy Rios, WPS coordinator of community education development, said he hopes the Week Without Violence will benefit the Tech community. "What we are trying to accomplish is to create awareness about domestic violence and get young people the information they need to know about this issue," he said. To learn more about domestic violence or how to can help, call WPS at (806) 747-6491 or visit the Web site: www.wpslbk.org.

"Stock the Shelter" Wishlist:

• Blankets
  
• comforters
• sheets
  
• Pillows
  
• Mattress protectors
• covers
• Towels
  
• Thirteen-gallon trash
  
• containers
• small trash cans
  
• Trash bags
  
• Toilet paper
• paper towels
  
• Kleenex
  
• Laundry soap
  
• Brooms
  
• mops
  
• dustpans
  
• Cleaning supplies
  
• bleach
  
• all-purpose cleaner
  
• window cleaner
  
• sponges
  
• Office supplies
  
• Laundry baskets
  
• Safety pins
  
• sewing kits
  
• Basic toiletry items:
  
• shampoo
  
• conditioner
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
  
• tampons
• deodorant
  

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