s&aiaa
. Adam Amato Photographer
Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team intern advisor Whitney Zeigler watches the SWAT interns
perform skits for the Prevention of Interpersonal Violence class Thursday afternoon, April 29.
Student counsels
victims of abuse
Whitney Zeigler is an intern
advisor and student leader
for the University’s Sexual
Wellness Advocacy Team
By Chelsea Duncan
Senior News Reporter
When she was five years old, Uni
versity graduate student Whitney Zei
gler was sexually abused. But as she
grew up, she found others with simi
lar experiences, went through coun
seling and began to find support in
other survivors.
Now, Zeigler hopes to pass that
support on to others.
"Something kept drawing me back
into this field," she said. "I think this
is where I'm meant to be."
Zeigler is the intern advisor for the
University's Sexual Wellness Advocacy
Team, an internship program in which
students dedicate time to educating
others about sexual assault, relation
ship violence, the dangers of stalking
and healthy sexual relationships.
"It affects so many people, especial
ly women," she said.
Zeigler, who is working toward her
master's degree in international stud
ies, said her personal experiences have
led her to work toward preventing do
mestic and sexual violence. Her inter
est in creating change began taking
shape as she grew up and talked with
other sexual abuse survivors.
"I became kind of an informal ad
vocate, " she said, adding that being
able to speak openly helps survivors
come to terms with their experiences.
"It gives them somewhat of a com
munity. It takes away the stigma and
the shame."
After receiving her undergraduate
degree in art from California's Scripps
College, Zeigler said she expected to
continue advocating awareness
through her art. But first she wanted
to gain more of an international per
spective on life in general.
She joined the Peace Corps in 1999
and remained a member until 2001,
teaching English to high school stu
dents in Poland, but soon realized she
would face more challenges than sim
ply teaching.
"Sometimes my students would
come to school with obvious bruises,"
she said. "It was a small community
so everyone knew what was going on,
but no one wanted to talk about it. It
was taboo."
Zeigler said she tried to look at the
situation not only from her perspec
tive, but in terms of the community's
cultural values as well. But she could
n't find a common ground.
"I just can't accept violence in any
form," she said. "I didn't expect that to
be the hardest thing to confront there"
She said she offered to let some of
the students stay with her, but they re
fused because they knew their parents
would find them. Because physical
abuse is considered a "family
problem" in Poland, Zeigler said it
seemed as if it wasn't her place to help.
"1 guess my interference wouldn't
have been accepted in the communi
ty," she said.
The community also lacked re
sources for victims of domestic abuse.
Zeigler said she wanted to find ways
to help victims of violence such as her
former students.
When she returned to the States, Zei
gler began researching domestic vio
lence resource institutions in Poland.
She found a few in some of the larger
cities and began making contacts.
She returned to Poland this past
summer to visit the organizations
and also the community she had
lived in previously to tell its citizens
about the resources. She also decid
ed to write her master's thesis based
on her experiences. Her thesis ana
lyzes the most effective strategies to
confront domestic violence with an
emphasis on trends of domestic vio
lence in Poland. Once it is complet
ed, she said she plans to send copies
to some of her former students and
friends back in Poland in hopes of
encouraging people to bring the is
sues to the front line.
ASUO Women's Center Office Co
ordinator Lori Brown said she holds a
lot of respect for Zeigler because of
her many accomplishments.
"She's taken positive action that's
come out of trauma," Brown said. "It
just shows that she really is a survivor;"
She said Zeigler was instrumental
in making the Sexual Wellness Advo
cacy Team a success on campus be
cause of her passion and initiative.
"She has high expectations for the
program and she inspires people to
meet them," she said.
Senior Yuri Akahira, who has been
involved in the program for two
years, said she didn't know anything
about sexual and domestic abuse be
fore she joined the team. But because
Zeigler has so much knowledge
about the issues, Akahira said she
caught on quickly.
"It's definitely important for every
body to know how much these issues
affect the community," she said.
Zeigler said students who want to
get involved with the program this
summer should pick up applications
in the Women's Center and turn them
in by May 4.
"We're trying to recruit a variety of
people from all walks of life," she
said.
Zeigler said she hopes to continue
educating students about these issues
in the future, and she also wants to
work in international gender and de
velopment areas.
"I want to make a difference," she
said. "And I feel like I can."
Contact the higher education/
student life/student affairs reporter
at chelseaduncan@daiiyemerald.com.
aily Emerald Job Fair and Open House
If you want a career in Journalism,
start now!
Make success a reality
Positions being
filled include:
Reporters
(sports, entertainment,
news, editorial)
♦ Desk editors
Graphic designers
Advertising design
Advertising sales
■
' '■ S'./?: ' ■: \ ' V: ' v : : iS; ; V . ' : ' :
018959
What: Job Fair and Open House
Where: Suite 300 EMU (3rd floor above the ballroom)
When: Tuesday, May 4, lpm-3pm
Or stop by our table at the Programs Faire from
10am—4pm on Tuesday, May 4 at the EMU Amphitheater
Oregon Daily Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity.
HAS A COlWERSAfIW HAPPENED?
Race isn't biological.
But that doesn't mean it isn't real.
the power of an illusion
nwicte release of a three-part documentary series by California Newsreel
lues. April 27th h'30-8.30pm Ben Linder Rm EMU)
EPISODE I - The Difference Between Us
Cues. May 4tit 6:30*8:30pm Ben Linder Rm (EMU)
EPISODE II - The Story We Tell
Hasn't race always been wifi us'--’ Explore the roots of tire race concept; the
19th century science that legitimized it and how it gained such a hold over
Our minds.
engage in
facilitated
dialogue
within a
safe and
supportive
space.
Hues. May 11th 8:30-8:30pm Ben Linder Rm(EMlj)
EPISODE ill - The House We Live In
Race may he a biological myth, but racism still gives different groups vastly
different life chances. Forty years after the Civil Rights movement, the playing
field is still not level, and 'colorblind" policies only perpetuate inequality
All levels
of interest
are welcome
LET’S ENGAGE IT.
VISIT THE COMPANION WEB SITE # www-pbs.org/race
o
1IN(V**AJTY OF OKRnON
For moro information coiilaci
dir BRI at 346-t 130 or
email kmoiicjitalari.ivimi.uvieaon.cdu
Student
Groups!
Advertise in the Emerald call 346-4343
or place your ad online at
www.dailyemerald.com