This past October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month.\u00a0 Every year many people work together to bring forth awareness and hope in different ways.\u00a0 Some host awareness walks in their town.\u00a0 Others hold candlelight vigils for domestic violence victims.\u00a0 If you\u2019re an UMPI student, you put on a play.\u00a0 On Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29, the University Players, UMPI\u2019s drama club, performed \u201cLove for Losers.\u201d\u00a0 The short play had a domestic violence theme.\u00a0 After the play, the cast and playwright Darci Faye held a discussion panel with employees from the Hope and Justice Project in Presque Isle.<\/p>\n
Faye is a senior criminal justice major at UMPI.\u00a0 She is also the founder and director of the University Players.\u00a0 Last year, Faye wrote and staged a play called \u201cInfinitely Yours.\u201d\u00a0 This was the first time she worked with the Hope and Justice Project.\u00a0 \u201cInfinitely Yours\u201d took on domestic violence issues in a serious way.\u00a0 Faye wanted \u201cLove for Losers\u201d to be a funnier look at that topic.\u00a0 She wrote the play for a comedy playwriting class that she took in New York City before her time at UMPI.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove for Losers\u201d follows Sadie, a Wal-Mart employee in Aroostook County.\u00a0 She spends much of her time fending off her \u201cbusybody\u201d co-worker Lenore.\u00a0 Lenore and Savannah, Sadie\u2019s sister\/co-worker, think that Sadie might be hiding something.\u00a0 They think it is strange that Sadie has filed for divorce from her husband Ben.<\/p>\n
Lenore and Savannah thought that Sadie and Ben were happy.\u00a0 But Ben had been abusing Sadie physically and emotionally for years.\u00a0 The play takes a funny turn when the women decide to get revenge on Ben.\u00a0 Faye hoped that audience members would respond well to the performance.\u00a0 But she was just as excited for the discussion panel after the play.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I enjoy about doing this with the Hope and Justice Project is the conversations afterwards,\u201d Faye said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a good jumping block to start a conversation about the issue and the myths about it, what people don\u2019t always understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Casey Faulkingham, prevention and training coordinator for the Hope and Justice Project, led the discussion panel.\u00a0 The Hope and Justice Project gives support, guidance and advocacy to domestic violence victims.\u00a0 They also educate the public on domestic violence issues.\u00a0 At UMPI, Faulkingham and her co-workers wanted people to be aware of the myths about domestic violence.\u00a0 They hoped that people would leave with a different viewpoint.<\/p>\n
One myth is that abusers are \u201cout of control\u201d when they act violent or aggressive.\u00a0 The truth is that abusers are always in control over their emotions and appearance.\u00a0 They might act friendly in public or around family and friends.\u00a0 But at home, when no one else is around, they hurt their partners and make them feel worthless.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbuse is not an anger or jealousy issue,\u201d Faulkingham said.\u00a0 \u201cSomeone who is an abuser has their own set of beliefs that they have the right to have power and control over another adult human being.\u201d<\/p>\n
The panel also talked about how family and friends can misunderstand a victim.\u00a0 Often victims are too scared to tell anyone about what is going on.\u00a0 If they do hint at their abuse, sometimes people react in negative ways.\u00a0 This happened in \u201cLove for Losers.\u201d\u00a0 At first, Lenore and Savannah could not see past Ben\u2019s act.\u00a0 They told Sadie that she was being \u201ctoo sensitive.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the play, Sadie left Ben.\u00a0 But many real life victims feel that they cannot take that step.\u00a0 Judgment from friends and family can make victims believe that they deserve their abuse.\u00a0 They falsely believe that what is happening to them is their own fault.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope people gain more empathy for what someone may be feeling in that situation,\u201d Faulkingham said.\u00a0 \u201cA person who is experiencing abuse doesn\u2019t deserve what is happening to them and there\u2019s no excuse for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Faye and Faulkingham enjoyed the chance to work together again.\u00a0 For them, the event was a unique way to raise awareness.\u00a0 Audience members watched \u201cLove for Losers,\u201d laughed and had a good time.\u00a0 But the discussion panel was a reminder that domestic violence is still a serious issue.\u00a0 The Hope and Justice Project is there for anyone who needs it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that they do really important work in this county.\u00a0 I know for sure that they\u2019re definitely needed,\u201d Faye said.\u00a0 \u201cI enjoy getting the word out that they\u2019re here and that they can help anyone who\u2019s going through an abusive relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
The play and discussion panel left a great impact on audience members.\u00a0 Sarah Harris, a freshman English major at UMPI, attended the Oct. 28 performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was really enlightening,\u201d Harris said.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t dealt with domestic violence, but it\u2019s good to know about so that if you see it happening you could reach out to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Domestic violence happens around us 24\/7.\u00a0 If we have not experienced abuse, we may know someone who has.\u00a0 Or we may not have any experience with this issue. \u00a0But there\u2019s always something we can do.\u00a0 That\u2019s what Faye and the Hope and Justice Project wanted people to know.\u00a0 Not everyone understands what a victim is going through.\u00a0 But what they really need is someone to listen and help.\u00a0 Being aware is the first step someone can take to become that person.<\/p>\n
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