This Monday, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity sponsored the first “Black Men’s Think Tank” of the year, inviting black men and women to discuss an important issue relevant to MU students.

This month’s topic was avoiding and defeating domestic abuse in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Alpha Phi Alpha program “EVOLUTION: The Black Men’s Think Tank” was founded 10 years ago to discuss issues relevant to black men at MU.

The program faded in popularity and ended, but was implemented again in 2004, this time allowing women to participate.

“We felt that it was important to open the forum for important subjects here at MU,” Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member Matthew Oates said.

Women from The Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault, a special center for women recovering from abusive relationships, provided students with ways to detect violent situations and to prevent repeated instances of domestic abuse.

Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member Gerald McLemore led the event and presented statistics concerning domestic abuse before the discussion began.

“A woman is battered every 15 to 18 seconds in the US,” McLemore said. “This problem is significant, and we must find a way to put an end to it.”

The Shelter Program Director Tracie Lawson stressed the warning signs a friend or acquaintance might be in an abusive relationship and urged students to take interest and to lend a helping hand.

“It’s all about one person at a time,” Lawson said. “If you see abuse, you need to say something.”

Warning signs discussed by the Think Tank facilitators included a decreased sense of self-esteem, inability to express oneself assertively and a gradual change in emotional or psychological stability.

Lawson also explained domestic abuse often results from a lack of self-esteem possessed by the batterer.

The batterer feels more confident about himself or herself when in control of others, leading to abuse of whoever will allow them this control, she said.

According to the statistics the representatives from The Shelter presented, 90 percent of victims in reported cases of domestic abuse are female.

But Lawson said she felt action by women alone was not enough.

“I feel like change will only come once men start to stand up and say ‘This is wrong,’” Lawson said.

Lawson suggested young men become involved with programs that advocate healthy relationships. Oates said he agreed with this statement, and offered the opportunity for those who attended the Think Tank to participate in the Homecoming parade on behalf of Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault.

“The best way that we as students can help to eliminate problems such as domestic abuse is to join organizations that promote respect for women and for all people,” McLemore said.

This article was provided by: The Maneater
Written by: Erica Zucco