Domestic Violence Awareness Month held at ECC in October

Elgin Community College will hold a series of events and activities throughout the month of October to raise awareness of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month, including the events, is sponsored by the Community Crisis Center, Office of Student Life and the Peace and Justice Club of ECC. All events are held at ECC's Spartan Drive Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The events are free and open to the public, unless noted. All events are located in the Building B Alumni Room, Room B182, unless otherwise listed.

Below is a list of events during Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

• "Why Do They Stay?" will be offered on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon and 7 to 9 p.m. For those who are not in the same position, it may be baffling why a person would stay in an abusive relationship. Sometimes, she has a choice and other times she does not. This presentation and discussion looks at the many reasons why a victim chooses to remain in an abusive relationship.

• "In Her Shoes" will be presented from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. The old saying "walk a mile in her shoes" comes to life with this interactive exercise. Experience what it means to live the life of a domestic violence victim by stepping in her shoes.

• "What about the Batterers?" will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 14, and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15. Being an abusive partner doesn't just happen. There are experiences and triggers that form the behavior. Attend this discussion and presentation to learn exactly what makes a batterer a batterer.

• "Clothesline Project" will be on display from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Building F International Lounge. This powerful display of T-shirts, created by victims of abuse, represents survivors of domestic violence and serves as a memorial for those who did not. The exhibit dramatically educates the public about family violence and the painful healing process for its survivors.

• "Domestic Violence: It's Everyone's Business" will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in Building G Spartan Auditorium. Keynote speaker Teri Jendusa Nicolai is a true survivor. In 2004, her ex-husband attempted to murder her by hitting her repeatedly in the head with a baseball bat, stuffing her into a garbage can and leaving it in a storage locker. She was found 26 hours later, less than one hour away from death. Teri now travels across the country speaking out against domestic violence and trying to help as many people as she can. She talks about bullying and the parallels to domestic violence. She identifies warning signs of domestic violence and teaches that 30 percent of all homicides are domestic violence-related. She has been featured on "Oprah," "20/20," the ID Channel, the BIO Channel and many more.

For more information, contact Student Life at (847) 214-7370.