Local groups recognize domestic violence
By DAWN GARCIA
Of >w Emerald
The number of battered women seek
ing help at Womenspace — a local
shelter for victims of domestic violence —
has doubled since the summer, director
Marlene Lasher told a gathering of local
women's groups Saturday
Lasher's speech was part of Lane
County's observance of National Day of
Unity to stop domestic violence, an event
involving workers from more than 400
shelters, hotlines and lobbying groups
nationwide
The local program included a keynote
address by Eugene City Council member
Cynthia Wooten, a panel discussion by
local shelter house workers and a film on
domestic violence Also included was a
candlelighting ceremony both to
remember all women who have been
victimized by domestic violence and to
celebrate the unity between women
working to stop this violence in Lane
County
We've begun to support each other;
the rise of shelters shows that,” Wooten
said, explaining that none of Oregon's 12
shelters — which serve more than 100
women and children each day — existed
before 1970
However, the rising number of shelters
does not erase the fact that 50 to 60
percent of American women are beaten
sometime in their lives. Lasher said
One of the reasons such violence
continues is because outsiders are not
inclined to interfere in family matters,
one panelist said Such feelings legi
timize wife-beating by making it part of
family life
Nevertheless, shelter houses and
other women's services are facing fund
ing problems because of federal aid
cutbacks. Wooten said.
A bill recently signed into law by Gov
Vic Atiyeh may ease some of these
problems; it increases marriage license
fees by $20 and earmarks the money for
battered women support groups
Pending legislation may provide even
more relief Two bills — HR 1007 and HR
1651 — would give federal support to
state and local programs aimed at stop
ping domestic violence They would
provide funds for research and establish
a national information clearinghouse
Three other bills would expand the
definition of abuse, require police to
keep records of domestic violence in
cidents and give officers the authority to
arrest violent males in these cases
"We re idealists, organizers and
fighters,” Wooten said, “and we shall not
rest until we’ve gained all our rights.”
Photo by Bob Baker
Cynthia Wooten
Wilson wins
position at
Miami Univ.
Douglas Wilson, executive
director of the University
Foundation and assistant vice
president tor development, has
been named vice president for
university relations at Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio
‘ Miami University's selection
of Douglas Wilson as its new
vice president is an important
plus for them and a significant
loss tor the University," says
Curtis Simic. vice president for
public services at the University
Wilson came to the University
in 1979 and was promoted to
assistant vice president for
development this summer,
having served as director of
development
Since Wilson's arrival, the
number of donors to the
foundation has increased from
3,700 in 1979 to more than 8,000
so far this year The value of
gifts is expected to be more than
$4 million this year, up from $1 9
million in 1979
' During his two years here,
the advancement in operation,
character and productivity of
the foundation has been un
precedented,” Simic says
Wilson is an alumnus of Miami
University, and served there as
alumni secretary and then as
director of alumni affairs from
1966 to 1979
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