When it comes to the stories that are published in Town&Gown, the overwhelming majority of them are about the positive aspects of Happy Valley, of which there are so many. The people, places, and events that make this region special are why many of us (myself included) love working and living here.
Occasionally, however, we do cover stories that aren’t so positive and spotlight issues that Centre County is dealing with and working to improve. When two local women, Nuria Kudlach and Natalya Podnebennaya, were killed within two months of each other last fall and their respective husbands were arrested and charged with the murders, the issue of domestic violence came to the forefront in this area. In reality, it’s something that is always there because it is happening and continues to happen here and all across the country — just ask the people who work for organizations such as the Centre County Women’s Resource Center.
In Savita Iyer-Ahrestani’s story, “Ending the Nightmares,” Centre County Women’s Resource Center executive director Anne Ard says the center served 1,000 adults for domestic violence cases in 2014-15.
In one sense — knowing there are that many people in our region living in homes where there is abuse happening — the number surprised me. In another sense, it didn’t. My wife grew up in a home where abuse happened, and she has bravely carried those emotional scars with her and has become an advocate for those who have been abused.
Unfortunately, domestic abuse is usually talked about only “when gunshots are fired,” as local attorney Sharon Barney
says in Iyer-Ahrestani’s story. In the story, Iyer-Ahrestani also talks with a local 20-year-old whose boyfriend abused her and with people in the community such as Ard and Barney who are helping to raise awareness about domestic violence as well as helping those who have been abused. If there is a positive aspect to the piece, that’s it — that there are people in our community who don’t let this issue become forgotten. The staff and volunteers at the Women’s Resource Center, Center for Women Students, and other organizations are there to help those who are suffering from abuse, and they are there to help them feel safe.
Whenever September 11 comes around, as difficult as it is, I feel it’s important to watch the images of that day from 2001. It’s important to remember what happened and how we felt that day.
In the same manner, perhaps it would be of service to watch the video, every now and then, of Ray Rice punching and knocking out his fianceÌe or look at photos of people who have been abused by their significant other. They can serve as reminders that abuse happens, and this is what it can look like.
They are needed reminders before we hear or read about another Natalya or Nuria.
