DSU Hosting Women’s Luncheon Next Week

With the month of March being Women’s History Month, the Dakota State University Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee will be hosting a panel discussion and luncheon to provide information on the topic of domestic violence. The event will take place next week on Thursday, March 30th at the Tunheim Classroom Building at DSU.

There will be four guest panelists that come from various backgrounds to address a variety of aspects of domestic violence.

Nicole Bowen is the Director of the DSU Counseling Center; Vickie Walters is a board member with the Madison Domestic Violence Network, and Sarina Talich is the Lake County Sheriff.  Sarah Rasmussen is the Director of Online Education at DSU, and a victim of domestic violence.

“I had no idea that what was happening to me was abuse. To me, abuse looked like a black eye, a bruised face, maybe even a broken bone. Unless those things were present, I was not sure what to call what was happening,” Rasmussen stated. “When we don’t know what to look for, we are unable to see abuse for what it is, so this luncheon is an opportunity to empower our community with the information,” said Rasmussen. 

The panelists will discuss ways to prevent incidents, methods of self-defense, signs of physical and/or emotional abuse, law enforcement processes, and resources available in the Madison area.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says that domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. It can take many forms, from physical injury to emotional abuse, but is always a systematic pattern of dominance and control.

Boxed lunches will be provided for community guests with a requested minimum $5 donation. Those with Trojan Silver will receive a free DSU student meal.

RSVP at [email protected] by Saturday, March 25th.