Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Abby Harvey

Eau Claire has been listed among the 18 counties in Wisconsin where homicides linked to domestic violence were committed in 2008, according to the annual Domestic Violence Homicide Report released by the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Tuesday evening the Bolton Refuge House, along with several contributing organizations, hosted the annual Day of Unity to help raise awareness of the growing problem of domestic violence in Wisconsin.The Day of Unity has kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Eau Claire for the past eight years.

Kylee Bowe, the shelter case manager at the Bolton Refuge House, organized the event this year, which featured a silent auction, free food and information booths from several community and campus organizations.

The V-day Campaign attended the event along with the campus Women's and Gender Equity Center and the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault.

Senior Jessica Ensrude, co-president of the V-Day Campaign, said that, although she personally does not see the effects of the rising domestic abuse rates on campus, they might be there.

"I'm just fortunate to have been able to find a healthy relationship as opposed to seeing some of the ones that other women are unfortunate to be involved in," she said.

The Bolton Refuge house recognized Paula Stuettgen, WAGE director and one of the founding mothers of the refuge house. She said she agrees that domestic violence is hard to spot, as many victims never contact anyone for help.

"Domestic violence is usually a very hidden one (problem), it's one that makes people ashamed." she said. "They think they can handle it or they think the person will change … people don't always see the immediate danger they're in when they're in the middle of it. "

Although domestic violence is not seen often on campus, Stuettgen said the effects are seen in terms of absenteeism, and a lack of ability to focus on tasks at hand.

"The effects are huge, in terms of just the human effect, when somebody's life isn't right, no matter what it is," she said.

The Day Unity is just one of several events taking place around Eau Claire in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The V-day Campaign is hosting a kitchen supplies drive for the Bolton Refuge House from Oct. 21 to 24, and the Bolton Refuge House is hoping to organize a run/walk for awareness near the end of the month.

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