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The Panhellenic Association Sororities of Georgia Southern will be hosting a “Domestic Abuse Awareness Week” Oct. 26-30.
Six sororities - Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Mu and Zeta Tau Alpha - will be working together to promote awareness among GSU and the Statesboro community.
This year will be the first time PHA will host the event. However, if participation rates are successful, they will likely make this an annual event.
During the week, there will be activities open to GSU students and the Greek community.
Although PHA Vice President of Programming Lauren Mathews has not disclosed the specific dates or locations of all the Greek sponsored activities, she said there will be a number of on campus information sessions during the week.
“PHA women will be handing out flyers that share information about domestic abuse, telling what domestic abuse is and what to do if someone you know is experiencing it,” said Mathews. “Sessions will be held on GSU’s campus, but it’s open to anyone.”
Mathews said students can look forward to receiving flyers the week of the event. Although some of the events will be held on GSU’s campus, PHA will be hosting activities off campus to encourage participation from the Statesboro community.
“On Tuesday, Oct. 27, we are doing a spirit night at McAlister’s Deli Restaurant to raise money, and on Wednesday we are collecting toys and toiletries,” she said.
Mathews said proceeds and donations will go towards a battered women’s home that PHA has been working with. Towards the end of the week, the remaining activities will be held on GSU’s campus.
“Thursday we will be judging the sororities’ information boards that will be displayed at the Rotunda from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.,” said Mathews.
Mathews said she is involved in promoting domestic abuse awareness because the issue is more common than people realize.
“I want to do my part to spread the word about domestic abuse,” she said. “Therefore, women who are experiencing this know that help is available.”
Although Domestic Violence Awareness will only last a week, GSU students have other resources that promote awareness, such as the student counseling center. GSU’s Counseling Center is offered to full-time university students.
Counseling Psychologist Shannon Salter Fussell said the center works with full-time student couples who are experiencing domestic violence situations. Fussell said their services are limited to full-time students because student services finances the center’s services.
“Part-time students don’t pay the same fees that full-time students pay,” said Fussell. “Therefore, we are not able to extend our services to part-time students.”
However, she encouraged part-time students to consider other resources.
“People who have insurance can see a lot of our local private practitioners that focus on domestic violence cases,” she said. “The psychology clinic on campus is staffed by advance graduate students who provide counseling services starting at $5.”
The clinic is housed in building 218 on Forest Drive, and its operation hours are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11a.m.-7 p.m.
If students or members of the community are unable to participate in GSU’s Domestic Violence Awareness Week, they can visit http://www.ndvh.org/.
The National Domestic Violence Awareness Hotline web site can provide resourceful information on topics such as crisis intervention, prevention, and survivors of domestic abuse. The web site also provides a 24-hour hotline which provides service 365 days a year.
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