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St. Francis students march against domestic violence

Tribune-Democrat - 3/26/2018

March 26--LORETTO -- Carrying bold banners and signs and standing side-by-side, St. Francis University students and faculty marched against domestic violence Sunday on campus.

Then, they gathered inside the JFK Student Center with a unified message for those who've survived it: You don't have to go through it alone.

For Cindy Estep, an area victim services advocate and a rape survivor, the sight of it all was a powerful one.

"These students are opening up something that was dark, putting light on it and saying no more," said Estep, an advocate with Blair County-based Victim Services, Inc. "It's just like we're seeing with the #MeToo movement -- by shedding light on this, all it takes is for one person to stand up and say 'No More' and it can bring out thousands of other voices."

According to one student organizer, Brianna Dixon, members of the St. Francis Social Work Club spent more than two months organizing a week's worth of Take Back The Night events to educate and empower their campus community about the harsh realities of domestic violence. At their age, it often comes in the form of sexual assault -- by friends or partners -- traumatic acts that those who live through it often try to dismiss or suffer with silently.

"Too often the blame still falls on the victim," Estep said, sharing a story about a student on a Blair County campus who lost her friends and ended up dropping out of school after reporting a rape by a roommate's boyfriend.

Today, more and more of today's young generation -- assault survivors -- are finding the confidence in numbers to step forward and say "Me too," she said. Thanks to events like Take Back The Night, those struggling to come to grips with their own experiences will be able to see there's help -- and hope.

Whether it's a fellow student, the school's counseling center or Victim Services, there are people ready to listen, Dixon said.

"Talking about it, it starts the healing process," She said. "That's why we're doing this."

St. Francis student Alicia Brown shared her own story of abuse, saying she was poked, pushed and, eventually, choked by her first boyfriend in high school, a violent cycle that she tried to hide -- from others and herself.

It took her years to realize a relationship she saw as "a dream" had become an inescapable nightmare.

"If I didn't end up getting a PFA against him, I wouldn't be here today," Brown said.

Behind her, colorful T-shirts displayed hand-painted messages of hope, such as "Keep the Faith" and "Stay Strong."

The shirts were being displayed Sunday as part of the school's "Clothesline Project" to increase awareness about domestic violence's impact on women and celebrate their strength to survive, Dixon said.

The club's adviser, Director of Social Work Mark Lynch, said his students embraced the event this year.

"They realize ... this is something we all have to be involved in," Lynch said. "If you don't speak up, maybe no one else will."

David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5053. Follow him on Twitter @TDDavidHurst and Instagram @TDDavidHurst.

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