Roughly 30 men pledged at Beta Theta Pi Monday (Oct. 16) night. They didn’t pledge to join the fraternity; they pledged to stand against violence.

"Oh my gosh, that’s great," said Willow Gormley, a sexual assault prevention educator with Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Gormley had just finished a half-hour program and passed around "Men Making a Stand Against Violence" pledge cards, ATVP’s main event during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Within minutes, the fraternity members filled out and signed all the cards and handed them back to Gormley. "I should have brought more. Thanks so much."

Gormley covered definitions, challenged myths about sexual assault, discussed date rape and date rape drugs, and outlined steps to take to help an acquaintance or friend who has been assaulted. Above all, she made the impersonal personal by asking the Beta Theta Pis to imagine their response to violence if it happened to a family member or friend.

"Think about the victim’s side," she stressed. "Chances are pretty good many of you will know someone who has been sexually assaulted, so it’s very important to know what to do."

Public presentations like these are some of the ways ATVP helps raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault in the region. According to Andrea Piper, ATVP’s coordinator of sexual assault services, prevention educators presented 132 programs about domestic violence and sexual assault to 2,200 people last year.

The need for awareness is great. During fiscal year 1999-2000, ATVP received 1,552 calls to its 24-hour hot line, 332-HELP (4357) or 883-HELP, available to clients 365 days year-round. The organization provided services to 219 new domestic violence victims in Washington and Idaho, as well as handling 114 ongoing cases. In addition, there were 57 new and 32 ongoing sexual assault cases. ATVP also provided confidential, safe shelter to 59 adults and children who otherwise would have been homeless.

"That’s quite a number for the Palouse," said Becky Pugh, coordinator of ATVP’s domestic violence services. With two college campuses in close proximity and more public awareness of domestic violence, "more people are finding out who we are."

ATVP is involved in a number of activities for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The biggest of these is the pledge card campaign, which culminates in a Tuesday (Oct. 24) reception and public signing of a proclamation against violence. (See pledge card below.) The reception is planned from 4-5 p.m. at the Quality Inn Paradise Creek Conference Center, 1400 SE Bishop Blvd. Signed cards can be returned to ATVP, P.O. Box 37, Pullman, WA 99163.

"We’re trying to get as many pledge cards signed as possible," Pugh said. "It should be very powerful to see that many men stand up against domestic violence."

ATVP also is working with the YWCA of WSU on its Clothesline Project, a visual display of shirts bearing witness to violence against women, child abuse, bigotry, family violence and racism. Each shirt represents the personal experience of a survivor or someone who cares about a survivor of violence. The shirts can be viewed from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today (Oct. 20) outside the CUB.

ATVP representatives and volunteers are distributing purple ribbons to area businesses for people to wear during October. Pugh added that letters also have gone out to organizations and athletic event coordinators asking for "moments of silence" during activities to honor domestic violence victims. In addition, ATVP is participating in a candlelight vigil to be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the University of Idaho.

Those who wish to volunteer during the month can help in various ways. Professors and instructors can call Pugh, 332-0552, for pledge cards to distribute in their classes.

ATVP is accepting donations of toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, canned food, furniture and more for the safe shelter for adults and children who leave abusive homes. The shelter is supported solely by grants and donations, and those who come to the shelter must oftentimes start over. ATVP also seeks volunteers who can serve as foster pet caretakers.

"When people leave a domestic violence situation, they leave everything behind," Pugh said.

Piper said WSU professors and instructors can call ATVP for class presentations on various topics applicable to college-age audiences, including dating violence, impact of drugs, effects of violence on children and healthy relationships.

"Date rape drug use is a really important issue for campus," Piper said. "It only takes one person in a classroom to take home the message."

For more information about the ATVP, the Web site is http://community.palouse.net/ATVP/index.html .