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Local Groups Try To Solve Problems With Domestic Violence
d> mac KllE CROCKKR
Chronicle SlaffWriter
With domestic violence
steadily rising across the nation,
the Winston-Salem YWCA and
Family Services recently held a
panel discussion to heighten
awareness of this grow ing prob
lem. ?
"As we see violence increase
in. society, we also see an
increase in domestic violence,"
said Andrea Wheatley, commu
nity educator for Family Ser
vices, a United Way agency.
The increase in violence
may be due to the heightened
media coverage and the growing
interest people have about
domestic violence.
"The more media coverage
the more we are able to inform
people of the different programs^
that are available for them to
receive help," she said.
As the media coverage
increases, a lot of beliefs and
myttis are being put to rest con
cerning domestic violence,
Wheatley said.
"The average battered
women is beaten three times a
- year," Wheatley said. "Most-peo
ple think a battered woman is
beaten everyday. But that's not
true."
Statistics show the two most
violent days of the year are
Superbowl Sunday and the day
following, she said.
"A lot of women think
because he is a loving father
most of the year then she can
deal with three days," Wheatley
said. "What we try to teach the
women is that those three times
are three too many."
The typical offender takes
care of his family and is a loving
father, she said.
Although women are the
victims in 95 percent of the
cases, there are some cases
where men are.
Alison Cranford, social
worker/criminal justice liaison
for Family Services, stressed the
importance of women recogniz
ing the violence when it begins.
"It is extremely important
for a woman to realize there is a
problem as soon as the violence
starts," she said.
According to Cranford,
women are in the most danger
when they are trying to leave a
violent relationship.
Seventy-five percent of
women who end up at the emer
gency rooms were trying To leave
or have left their relationships,
Wheatley said.
"The sooner the victim
makes it clear that she is not
going to tolerate that type of vio
lence the better," Wheatley said.
The average woman will
leave an abusive relationship
seven to eight times before she
decides to get out permanetly,
she said.
There are many reasons w hy
a victim may choose not to leave
the relationship, press charges or
seek to prosecute their offenders,
Cranford said.
"Some of them are afratd of
losing their relationships and
some may be afraid of what may
happen if the person is released,"
Cranford said.
According to Cranford,
domestic violence isn't just pre
sent in low income families, but
all families despite economical
status.
'The wealthier victims have
more options to solve the prob
lems, and keep their reputations
by keeping it quiet, but the lower
class people have fewer options
and have to solve their problems
in court," she said.
Ian Weinman, with the
Forsyth County District Attor
ney's office, said tews concern
ing domestic violence are being
stiffened.
"Any type of assault on a
female is considered a Class A-l
misdemeanor and carries more
weight than a regular assault
charge," she said.
For an assault on a female to
occur, the offender must be a
male, and the victim must be a
female.
An offender can be charged
with a felony if they have five
prior convictions, said Weinman.
If the offender does not have any
prior convictions He will proba
bly receive probation,"sbe said.
Another law device used to
protect the victim is a 50-B form.
A 50-B is a temporary pro
tective order issued by a judge
until the case is heard in court.
"With a 50-B, if the offender
comes back around after the
order is issued, then he can be
arrested and detained," Cranford
said.
"The only problem we have
with the 50-B is that when peo
ple come to fill out the form,
they don't know how," said
Mary Gentry, with the Forsyth
County Clerk of Courts Office.
According to Gentry, per
sonnel from the clerk of courts
the person filling the form,
which makes the process
' W %J y?
J ^
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Mary Gentry, h/7/i the Forsyth County Clerk of Courts, and Alison
Cranford, with Family Services.
extremely difficult.
"Whenever someone comes
to fill out a form, the information
they need is: who did it. when it
happen, what took place and
what exactly was said," Gentry
said.
Once the form is completed
the wielim~mus4- take thercase
before a judge who w ill decide if
a temporary 10 day protective
order is necessary or until the
case is heard in court.
Wheatley says there are
some results from the attention
on domestic violence, such as
neu laws being passed and old
laws being stiffened.
"We will continue to educate
women and teach them that one
slap us one too many." she said.
"We also want to let pien know
that this behavior is no longer
acceptable."
Sorors Nikita Williams and Angie Mitchell of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc,
Omega Chapter solicit clothing donations.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Honor Black History Month
In recognizing Black His
tory Month, the intellectual
ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Soror
ity, Inc, honored their black
ancestors by planning activities
every week at the campus at
WSSU. To kick Black History
Month off, the appreciative
ladies of blue and white held a
candlelight vigil in tribute to
their black historians who
paved the way, on January 31,
1996 at 7:30 p.m. in front of
Blair Hall. Students expressed
gratitude and thanks for our
black leaders and lit candles in
their memory.
The first week of Black
History was opened with a
black poetry reading at 7:30
p.m. in the Student Union Ball
room, on February 7, 1996.
Students gathered and shared
quotes and read poetry of black
authors.
Tuesday February 13, a
Black Love Seminar was spon
sored This seminar discussed
black love and provided open,
positive communication of top
ics concerning black relation
ships.
An open forum allowed for
discussion of the students on
relationships.
Soror Avis Bond, was the
mistress of ceremonies. Ques
tions and participation were
high from campus students
Omega chapter also spon
sored Voter Registration, on
February 27, in the Anderson
Center Cafeteria Area, to
encourage the students to vote,
so their voices can be heard.
In closing of the months
events. Miss Zeta Phi Beta.
Demetris DeVane. held a TB
(Tuberculosis) seminar on
Wednesday. Februar> 2X in
Wilson Hall in the 4th floor
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