The Women's Resource Center at the University of Alabama TITLE

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Women's Resource Center will host a series of events and programs to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month throughout October. Members of the campus community are invited to participate in the Purple Ribbon Campaign. The purple ribbon is a symbol used to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence. All interested UA faculty and staff members are encouraged to hang purple ribbons on their office doors, or display a personal ribbon throughout the month. Requests for campus delivery of these ribbons can be made by calling the Women's Resource Center main line at 205-348-5040.

The Women's Resource Center will be coordinating the annual Dating Violence Candlelight Vigil this year on Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. in front of Denny Chimes to raise awareness about the issue of dating and domestic violence in our communities. The event will commemorate those whom have died at the hands of a significant other and recognize all those living in an abusive relationship. Stacy Panitch, Programs Coordinator of the Women's Resource Center and organizer of the event offers, "Domestic violence against women is more common than we think; we need to engage in a community of civic responsibility to address this pervasive issue." This event is cosponsored by members of NPHC, Panhellenic, IFC, Judicial Affairs, Pepsi, and Verizon Wireless. "We are proud and honored to join the Women's Resource Center this October in its efforts to end domestic violence forever," said Caran Smith, Verizon Wireless Public Relations Manager for the Alabama/Georgia Region.

"Verizon Wireless is constantly working to stop the cycle of violence in our communities, and the annual Dating Violence Candlelight Vigil is an effective way of creating awareness throughout UA's campus and the Tuscaloosa community."

The Women's Resource Center will sponsor the nationally-recognized Clothesline Project at Denny Chimes the evening of the Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil. Visual artist, Rachel Carey-Harper, started the clothes line project in 1990. The project features t-shirts bearing stories of the victims and survivors of domestic violence for display to the public. While the concept of a clothesline may represent domesticity and/or "women's-work," it is, historically, the place where women exchanged stories of trials and survival. The display offers a powerful visual testimony to the pain of domestic violence.

The Women's Resource Center will host a SHARP self defense class for Women on Oct. 27 and 28 from 6-10 p.m. This is an 8-hour course offered to University of Alabama faculty, staff and students. This is a free course but space is limited. Please call the Women's Resource Center at 205-348-5040 to reserve your spot today.

For more information on any of the programs for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, contact the Women's Resource Center at 205-348-5040.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  ####