Karina Gonzalez
April 2007 marked the 21st anniversary of Jeanne Clery’s rape and murder in her Lehigh University dorm room.
As a result of this tragedy, Congress passed the “Clery Act” of 1990, which requires that all institutions of higher education publish their crime statistics for the past three years (e.g., the Pierce College Schedule of Classes).
Furthermore, in the wake of her death April was named National Sexual Violence Awareness Month and October was designated National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The purpose of devoting October to an increased awareness of domestic violence, according to the official White House proclamation, is to “renew our commitment to prevent domestic violence and to assist those who suffer from its devastating effects.” So in the spirit of prevention and eradication, there are a number of things college students ought to be aware of.
Most notably, domestic violence is by no means limited to spousal battery. Some of the perhaps less obvious forms it may take are: marital rape, denial of medical care, emotional abuse, damaging a relationship with one’s children, economic abuse, forbidding attendance to school or work, stalking and threats of physical harm.
Fortunately for Pierce, USC wrote a grant five years ago with the Department of Justice to assist students of the nine Los Angeles Community Colleges in handling these types of abuse.
Following the grant’s success, Pierce formed a Campus Violence Response Team (CVRT), the head of which is professor of criminal justice and sociology, Kathy Oborn.
“Until this grant, we weren’t getting assistance with sexual and domestic violence because we don’t have dorms,” Oborn said. “I think it’s important, in the memory of Jeanne Clery, that people be aware of it.”
Among the things that the CVRT helps with are sexual assault, domestic abuse, stalking and abuse based on sexual orientation. Oborn also emphasized that victims of sexual and domestic violence are not always female.
“Often, the last thing these students want to think about is going to school, and that’s why we’re here-to offer them some options,” Oborn explained.
While the CVRT does not offer in-house therapy, they do provide information and resources for students, such as peer support groups, trauma services, counseling, or how to proceed with civil or criminal charges.
It is also important to note that sessions with CVRT members are nonjudgmental and completely confidential.
Other members of the CVRT are: Blanca Adajian (media arts department), Beth Benne (Health Center) Miriam Gottlieb (Special Services), Holly Hagan (Bookstore), Abbey Klein (GAIN/CalWORKS), Steve Ruys (physical education) and Jeanine Swanson (Sheriff’s Deputy).
Contact numbers for all members are available at piercecollege.edu under the “search people” directory. Any student who is the victim of sexual or domestic violence is encouraged to contact the CVRT.
October is Nation Domestic Violence Awareness Month ()