OCTOBER 4, 2017 VOLUME 102 ISSUE 7
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News
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Features
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Opinion
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Young Americans for Liberty march for free speech Alysa Bass
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The people of Hattiesburg are raising awareness for victims and survivors of domestic violence in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Mayor Toby Barker announced Hattiesburg’s continued support of the month. There will be a candlelight ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. and a selfdefense class sponsored by the Victim’s Service Unit of the Hattiesburg Police Department on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Jackie Dole Community Center. Domestic violence is defined as “a pattern of abusive behaviors— including physical, sexual and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion—used by one intimate partner against another (adult or adolescent) to gain, maintain or regain power and control in the relationship,” according to the Domestic Violence Awareness Project. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), it affects persons of every community “regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or nationality” and can result in chronic injuries, both physical and psychological, or even death. Domestic violence is commonly viewed as physical abuse, but the NCADV says it also includes “name-calling, threats, possessiveness or distrust,” all of which the abuser may apologize
for and say he or she is doing them “out of love or care.” The NCADV also says that “emotional and psychological abuse can often be just as extreme as physical violence,” yet victims in these cases are less likely to see it as abuse. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an average of 24 people in the United States are raped, stalked or physically abused every minute by their intimate partner. The Hotline also says that in their lifetimes, almost half of U.S. men (48.8 percent) and women (48.4 percent) have experienced psychological abuse by an intimate partner, and about 10.7 percent of women and 2.1 percent of men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime, with stalking including unwanted calls, voice or text messages. Adolescents also experience domestic abuse. The Hotline says that 30 to 60 percent of those who abuse their intimate partner also abuse the partner’s children, and that children exposed to violence in their homes were “15 times more likely to be physically and/ or sexually assaulted than the national average.” College students experience an enormous amount of abuse compared to other groups. The Hotline says that one in three college women have been in an abusive dating relationship, 52 percent of college women know a friend who has experienced abuse, and 69 percent of women and 53 percent of men who have experienced abuse experienced it
before the age of 25. However, most college students do not always recognize it, and if they do, they do not know what to do about it. Fifty-eight percent do not know how to help a victim, 38 percent do not know how to get help for themselves and 57 percent find it difficult to identify dating abuse. “I feel like it’s a good thing that Hattiesburg is holding a [candlelight] vigil and that the police department is having selfdefense classes to help women and men protect themselves,” said sophomore Erin Masson. “I know for myself that I would go to a self-defense class because it would help me feel safer. I feel like the city is doing the right thing… because the victims’ voices are still important and by doing [the vigil and defense classes], it’s showing the rest of the world that we don’t tolerate domestic violence from anyone.” The month’s official color is purple, which, according to DomesticShelters.org, exemplifies hope for survivors and dedication to ending violence. Rose M. Garrity, the board president of the NCADV, said that the color dates back to the Women’s Suffrage Movement, where the National Women’s Party used purple, white and gold to display purity, hope and loyalty, and that the color purple was already associated with royalty and women, making it a logical fit to the movement. Victims of domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential help at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), an organization at USM designed to inform students of the economy and their constitutional rights, arrived to Shoemaker Square at 11 a.m. With the Mississippi state flag, Don’t Tread on Me rainbow flag, Born to be Free Confederate flag, markers and an 8x8 free speech beach ball in their hands, six members of the Young Americans for Liberty stunned and puzzled the student body as they challenged USM’s policies on freedom of speech. Vice president of the USM chapter of YAL, YAL state chair for Mississippi, Tennesse and West Virginia and senior history pre-law major Hunter Richardson said that the event has been planned for weeks. “Currently, the university can regulate what you can say outside of the free speech zones, so technically we can be asked to leave or even be arrested [for protesting outside of three free speech zones],” Richardson said. Richardson also said that YAL had notified the USM Police Department, who are usually present during oncampus protests, of their plans. However, officers did not arrive until later in the afternoon. Surrounded by multiple tabling events and fountain construction workers, the demonstration began slowly. However, once a wave of students began to enter the Square during the lunch hour, the Young Americans for Liberty attracted attention with their state and rainbow flags flailing in unison. Savannah Wise, freshman physics major and outreach director of YAL, provided the
Kendra Cole, Printz
state flag and Don’t Tread on Me rainbow flags. During the YAL’s time of protest, Wise could be seen explaining to curious students and faculty the meaning of the Don’t Tread on Me rainbow flag. Summarizing the lengthy history of the flag she was most fascinated with, Wise said, “The original meaning of it I feel like I am certainly behind and other people could get behind if they knew the original meaning of it: If you infringe on my rights, I’m going to defend my rights.” Once the beach ball had been filled with air, members of YAL were able to persuade onlookers to participate in the protest by taking a black marker to write whatever they desired on the ball. Messages included “Take the Knee,” a reference to the recent protests held by NFL athletes, “Black Lives Matter,” “Love Trumps Hate” and “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of prejudice! #F***theconfederateflag.” Throughout the YAL’s time in Shoemaker Square, the protest remained peaceful with the exception of one brief incident involving an unnamed student. The student snatched the state flag out of YAL member freshman recording industry production major Jacob Floyd’s hands and threw it to the ground. Richardson informed the student that he committed assault, a misdemeanor in Mississippi. The Mississippi state flag, infamous for its incorporation of the Confederate emblem, appeared to be the topic of many conversations as YAL traveled from Shoemaker Square to outside the doors of Power House with the flags and beach ball. CONTINUED ONLINE