Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Andrea Harrell Students participated in a candlelight vigil Wednesday in honor of victims of domestic violence.

Every nine seconds a woman in the U.S. is assaulted by her spouse. Domestic violence is the No. 1 cause of emergency room visits by women. Four million women a year are assaulted and beaten.

Some of those women shared their stories Wednesday night.

For domestic violence awareness month, the Minnesota State Women's Center held the first annual speak-out against domestic violence. Students and faculty gathered to remember and give support to those victimized.

Annelies Hagemeister, a faculty member at MSU, remembered a student and friend who was murdered on Valentine's Day in 1996 by her estranged boyfriend.

"She was in fact another Minnesota woman lost to domestic violence, one of over 300 in the past decade," Hagemeister said. "That doesn't even begin to count the hundreds of thousands of other harmed across the country because of domestic violence."

Many students shared personal and friend's survivor stories of domestic abuse. Most of the stories began with the person verbally abusing the victim. According to sexual violence education coordinator Lauren Pilnick, abuse almost always begins with isolation, manipulation and control before it becomes physical.

One student shared her story of abuse in a relationship she was in and gave advice and inspiration to those who may be being abused.

"I am a survivor and if you know anyone in this situation try to be there for them and give them all of the resources they need," she said.

She encouraged those being abused to see a counselor, someone in the Women's Center or talk to a trusted friend.

Followed by the speak-out was the annual vigil to remember murdered victims of domestic abuse. The vigil was sponsored by members of Alpha Chi Omega.

"We do this in hopes to raise enough awareness so someday in the future we won't have to do this," said Alpha Chi Omega president Christina Thomas.

Female-figured red silhouettes surrounded the fountain along with candles. Plaques on the silhouettes tell the story of female murder victims from Blue Earth and surrounding counties.

One such plaque told the story of Peter Shoen, 34, and his wife Kimberly, 33, who lived together on a farm in 1996. Shoen said his wife fell down the stairs and hit his head while they were fighting. He said he looked at his unconscious, bleeding wife and decided to get a pipe and "put her out of her misery." He said he hit her on the head and neck several times with the pipe then went outside to tend to his livestock. He later called 911. Shoen was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Crimes like the ones on the plaques are seldom talked about and perhaps, as a result, seldom prevented.

For more information about domestic abuse or prevention, contact Sexual Violence Education Coordinator Lauren Pilnick at 507-389-5127 or lauren.pilnick@mnsu.edu.


Rebecca McQuiston is a Reporter staff writer

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