No More Silence in the Dark: A Panel Discussion on Reducing Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Alaska

by Barbara Armstrong  |   

"No More Silence in the Dark" was an event cosponsored by the Justice Center at University of Alaska Anchorage (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ) and the Omega Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society. The event was presented as part of National Criminal Justice Month 2014 and "Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Says No More" week.

The event was moderated by Ryan Fortson, Legal Studies faculty in the Justice Center. The program was held March 19, 2014, in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ/APU Consortium Library on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ campus, with an attendance of more than 150 students, faculty, and members of the public.

Senior Justice majors/Legal Studies minors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer planned and coordinated this event as part of their capstone project through the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Center for Community Engagement & Learning (CCEL). The event, part of the the , which aims to  increase awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault, was a key event of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Says No More Week, which is intended to become an annual event. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ's campaign continues at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ NO MORE Alliance, a student club, and Simona and Kristen have continued to be involved through the statewide organization . Photos and additional information about the NO MORE campaign can be found on the the .

Panelists

  • Ryan Fortson, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center, moderator
  • Marny Rivera, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center
  • Randi Breager, Program Coordinator with the Alaska State Troopers
  • Rhonda Street, Anchorage Police Department officer
  • Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department officer
  • Shannon Eddy, Legal Project Staff Attorney, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)
  • Dr. Angelia Trujillo, Forensic Nurse Examiner, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ School of Nursing

 

Event coordinators and panelists
Event coordinators & panelists (left to right): Officer Rhoda Street, Anchorage Police Department; Dr. Marny Rivera, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center; Kristen Speyerer, event coordinator; Simona Gerdts, event coordinator; Dr. Ryan Forston, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ School of Nursing; Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department. Photo by Isabella Forshee

 

Event Resources


 

Video PSA

The  was created as part of the "Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Says No More" campaign launched during the Fall 2013 semester at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and features Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students, faculty, and staff. Video production and editing donated by Eric Baldwin, Media Technician, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Academic Innovations & ELearning.


 

Media Reports

  • "Domestic Violence: NO MORE" by Nita Mauigoa. The Northern Light, 18 Mar 2014.
  • (audio 4:54) by Lori Townsend. Alaska Public Radio Network, 17 Mar 2014.
  •  by John D. Sutter. CNN.com, 26 Mar 2014.
  • "Say 'No More'': Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Tackles Domestic Violence" by Rebecca Barker and Heather Aronno. Alaska Commons, 26 Mar 2014.
  • by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center Blog, Apr 2, 2014.
  •  by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Justice Center Blog, Apr 2, 2014.