NSU’s Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the Division of Student Affairs and Women in Distress will host the Silent Witness Memorial to honor those who have died from domestic violence on Oct. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Fellows Way, located between the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center and the Carl DeSantis Building.
The Silent Witness Memorial is a national movement that focuses on the victims who lost their lives to domestic violence. The memorial brings together students, faculty, law enforcement and political figures to fight against domestic violence.
The event will include an opening speech presented by NSU’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jacqueline A. Travisano, live entertainment including songs, poetry, a candle light vigil and resources to help others cope with domestic violence.
Kappa Alpha Psi Secretary Joshua Moody, senior legal studies major, said the mission of Silent Witness is to stop domestic violence abuse for everyone through intervention, education and advocacy.
“There are rarely signs of domestic violence on campus and the majority of all domestic cases are never reported,” Moody said. “By showcasing these matters and addressing the students, we can help to prevent domestic cases that may come about locally or in the future. We must end the corrupt behaviors of domestic violence that have been adopted into households, college campuses and other places of living.”
This is the first year the Silent Witness Memorial is taking place on campus.
Angelica Brodeur, prevention specialist for Women in Distress, a nationally accredited full service domestic violence center, said, “In past years, the event was at a park or [the Women in Distress] center, where we had to invite people. This year, having it at NSU opens it up to the community — we are going to a place where people are”
The Silent Witness Memorial was also brought to campus this year in hopes that students will seek help if they are in a domestic violence situation.
“I want students to know where they can turn when in need of help, whether they need it now or down the road — they know they can come to us for support,” Brodeur said. “NSU and South Florida need to be knowledgeable about what’s happening in its community. Domestic violence can be anyone’s reality.”
In the weeks leading up to the event, life-size silhouettes will be set up on campus to honor the 11 individuals who died from domestic violence in Broward County within this last year. The silhouettes are a way for attendees to understand the reality of domestic violence. Brodeur said the three-dimensional foam silhouettes will feature a personalized plaque that tells the story of the victims.
Women in Distress Education and Prevention Manager Ron Osborne-Williams said the silhouettes portray the person’s domestic violence story.
“The audience will be able to learn about the ones who lost their battle. This is a time for our society to wake up and see that violence isn’t a joke and that domestic violence is very detrimental to us and affects everyone,” Osborne-Williams said.
Osborne-Williams said having this event on campus allows youth to take action.
“College students are the ones who create our future and take action,” he said. “They are the ones who will ultimately decide what our society will become.”
Osborne-Williams encouraged students to recognize and bring light to the issue of domestic violence.
“Promoting peace and responsibility are ways to heal and improve relationships. Attending this event will allow people to be educated in the area of domestic violence and hopefully take action if it does occur,” he said.
For more information about this event or domestic violence, contact Brodeur at abrodeur@womenindistress.org or 954-760-9800.
