A collection of red full-body silhouettes stands at the third floor of the Markosian Library. They each tell a story of a mother, daughter, sister, son or brother who was killed because of a domestic violence attack.
“Janice Marie, age 33, Mar. 5, 1952 – Apr. 8, 1985, beloved mother.
Stalked, raped, and murdered by an ex-boyfriend. The murder took place in front of her two children, ages 11 and 13 at the time. Although the autopsy and death certificate states the cause of death as homicide, her killer was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter Without Malice. He served 18 months and is now free because he murdered her with his fist and not a ‘weapon’ and thus why it was considered ‘without malice’.”
The Silent Witness display is a national initiative to increase awareness of domestic violence deaths around the country.
As a part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Thayne Service Learning Center in collaboration with West Valley City has brought this event to Redwood and Jordan campuses throughout the month of October.
“In 2010 there were in Utah, 19 people that died from domestic violence,” said Linne Spor, Thayne’s service leadership coordinator. “In 2011 [there were] 32, and so it’s definitely an increasing problem.”
According to Spor, statistics show that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women and that one in four women will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. These statistics reflect records from the early to late 1990s, and she expects that the numbers have grown in recent years.
The purpose of the exhibit is to increase awareness of the growing problem
Each silhouette represents a woman or child who was killed because of a domestic violence act. Their story is briefly told on a paper on the silhouette.
“It’s very unique and we have a reflective table where students can [write down their reactions to] the experience,” said Spor.
Many of the reflections communicate sorrow and sadness, though others show surprise and outrage toward this type of senseless violence.
This is the second year that the Thayne center has exhibited the Silent Witness at SLCC. They hope to extend it to South City campus next year once that campus construction is completed.
Members of the SLCC group Student Leaders in Civic Engagement (SLICE) chose just a few stories to share from thousands of stories all across the nation to display at Salt Lake Community College this month.
To help students become aware and engaged
“[SLICE] works on different issues in our community and we become educated and then we try to educate other Salt Lake Community College students about the issues,” said Spor. “We also try to become engaged in these issues and try to make a difference in the community.”
Every month SLICE focuses on a new issue to help students become aware and engaged in the community. Next month they will be working on social issues regarding hunger and homelessness. In December they will focus on the elderly and children.
The Silent Witness will be displayed at Redwood campus on the third floor of the Markosian Library until Oct. 15. Then it will move to the Jordan campus in the Health Science Atrium until Oct. 25.
Visit the Thayne Center blog for more information.
For domestic violence help or resources call the statewide domestic violence LINKLine at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or visit their website.
