Silhouettes will honor the victims of violence

10/4/2004

BOWLING GREEN - More than 30 life-sized silhouettes representing northwest Ohio women who have been killed as the result of domestic violence will be unveiled at noon Wednesday in the third annual Silent Witness Unveiling at Bowling Green State University.

The event, to be held in Room 101B of Olscamp Hall, is intended to honor victims and generate awareness about domestic violence, and advocate for legislative action to end violence against women.

"Each of the silhouettes bears the name, age, and story of a woman murdered in an act of domestic violence," said Rebecca Nichols Theis, victim advocate with the Transformation Project at the Women's Center at BGSU. "This year, we added eight new witnesses just from northwest Ohio. From June, 2003, to August, 2004, there were eight murders."

The tally does not count last week's murder of Sandra K. Smith, 48, of Pemberville, who was stabbed to death, allegedly by her estranged boyfriend.

Other activities at BGSU planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month include:

A session on the link between animal cruelty and family violence from noon to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Ice Arena lounge.

The Clothesline Project and "Hands are not for hurting" program from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21 in the Education Building. T-shirts created by Wood County residents affected by violence will be displayed on the lawn outside, while students, faculty, and staff can create handprint testimonies on the steps to show their commitment to ending domestic violence.