Panel discusses domestic violence

The Bloomington Women's Equity Council hosted a panel discussion Monday evening in the Monroe County Public Library auditorium. The discussion, called "Violence Against Women - Monroe County's Response" was held as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is a congressionally sponsored event.\nCommunity members, as well as IU students and faculty members, convened to discuss the state of the domestic violence issue in Monroe County as well as to raise community awareness in hopes of spurring legal action.\nTwo empty chairs were placed on the stage. One symbolized survivors of violence against women who may not have spoken out. The other symbolized victims who were killed as a result of violence against women.\nAfter a brief introduction, each panelists introduced themselves. Officer Jim Witmer represented the Bloomington Police Department.\n"People don't always realize the intricacies involved in law enforcement," Witmer said. "Some cases we can't fix right away. We're sort of a band-aid for society."\nMonroe County Deputy Prosecutor Lynda Robison filled in for Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann.\n"(Violence against women) is a serious issue," Robison said at the discussion. "It's one that our office takes very seriously."\nPatti Cummings represented the Middle Way House for battered women and children. \n"We hope to be put out of business as soon as possible," Cummings said of Middle Way House, where she is a legal advocate for abused women. "We'd all like to be in the unemployment line."\nPanelist Stacey McDaris, coordinates Take Back the Night, an annual rally to raise awareness about violence against women. \n"The problem (of violence against women) doesn't lie just in our judicial system, but in our society as well," McDaris said.\nAudience members had a chance to either address the panel at a microphone or via an anonymous drop box. Audience members asked such informative questions as to what was involved in a "rape kit" and also addressed more controversial topics. Some critiqued the institutions involved in punishing violent offenders.\n"I think we really brought out the aspects of prosecution to the community," McDaris said.\nShort excerpts of domestic violence survivor stories collected by therapists and BWEC members were read throughout the discussion.\nPanelists and audience members alike acknowledged the challenges they face but also expressed optimism for what the community could accomplish.\n"I think we are very fortunate to have all of us working together," Robison said.\nBWEC founding member Lisa Spector said she was pleased with how the event went, although she wished there had been more time to answer all the participants' questions.\n"I hope people continue their awareness and that local law enforcement respond," Spector said.\n-- Contact staff writer Mike McElroy at mmcelroy@indiana.edu.