Purple Alliance: Trine students learn about domestic violence from local leaders

At an event offered as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Trine University students not only learned about the issues surrounding domestic violence today, but took away insights on how to combat it in the future.

The university’s Cold Case Unit hosted “Purple Alliance: Break the Silence” on Oct. 16 in the Fabiani Theatre. Seventy-two students attended.

The event featured a panel of officials from four agencies who shared their expertise and services with domestic violence victims and offenders.

Panel members were Allie Curdes, an officer with the Angola Police Department, Tara Huisman, adult probation officer with the Steuben County Probation Department, Amanda Montague, assistant director and advocate at the Elijah Haven Crisis Intervention Center, and Lesli Hall, vice president and secretary with TLC House Indiana.

All too prevalent

Merica Anderson, a psychology major from New Palestine, Indiana, said she attended the event because domestic violence is so prevalent and because it has impacted her life.

“It’s important for students at Trine to understand what a healthy versus unhealthy relationship looks like,” she said.

Anderson said her biggest takeaway was the specific examples given of how abuse can look in everyday life.

“One of the speakers shared her personal story and really reached the audience in showing it can happen to anyone,” she said.

Katie Waters, a psychology major from Auburn, Indiana, said she was most impacted by photos of domestic violence victims that Curdes shared.

“They really put domestic violence into perspective of how harmful it can be to families,” she said.

“Domestic violence is more prevalent than we think, because it is underreported,” she added. “It is important that we support our local police, probation, TLC center and the Elijah Haven in our community, as they are the ones who handle cases within our city.”

Waters said she plans to take what she learned at Purple Alliance into her future career as an attorney.

“I learned that individuals who experience domestic violence need years of support and therapy,” she said. “I know organizations like Elijah Haven and the TLC center need legal counsel often when handling domestic violence cases.”

Anderson, who hopes to be a correctional psychologist, said the Purple Alliance event helped her understand that she might work one day with abusers who are also victims.

“Understanding that what they’ve done is wrong is important,” she said. “Also, though, it gives a better understanding of how to rehabilitate so they can heal themselves and prevent reoffending.”

She was impressed by the support system available in Steuben County.

“The Angola Police Department gave great resources and is something I would wish to see more of back in Indianapolis,” she said. “I know growing up we never had police come and talk to us about this topic. (It’s important that) the child feels comfortable enough to speak to police they’ve seen at their schools.”