The College of Charleston’s Department of Political Science, in collaboration with local newspaper the Post and Courier and ABC News 4 (WCIV-TV) Charleston, will host a televised event titled “Time for Change: A Town Hall on Domestic Violence.” The free town hall forum is open to the public, and will take place at 7 p.m. January 13, 2014 at the Sottile Theatre (44 George St.).
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The town hall event follows the Post and Courier’s investigative series on domestic violence in South Carolina, titled “Till Death Do Us Part.” Post and Courier reporter Doug Pardue, who worked on the series, will be among the event’s panelists. Others include 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson; Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen; Becky Callaham, executive director of nonprofit domestic abuse shelter Safe Harbor; Executive Director of the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Sara Barber; and state Rep. Peter McCoy.
College of Charleston political science professors Claire Curtis and Claire Wofford each have expertise in domestic violence issues. “It is important to have a forum like this to keep the issue of domestic violence at the forefront of people’s minds,” Curtis said. “We should all be paying attention, following up and asking what can be done to change the culture of domestic violence that exists in South Carolina.”
Wofford stressed, “Domestic violence knows no boundaries – not age, race, class, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. It thrives in an environment of secrecy and shame, in which victims do not feel supported and the public remains unaware of both the extent of the problem and how they can help remedy it.”
Both Curtis and Wofford hope the forum will clarify next steps toward preventing domestic violence, noting that the College is a partner in communicating about the problem and working toward a solution.
“Only by raising awareness and involving all the relevant actors can domestic violence finally be stopped,” Wofford said. “By giving audience members the chance to ask questions, it also allows them to play a direct role in our efforts towards social and political change.”
Wofford teaches American Government and Constitutional Law, and both Wofford and Curtis teach Gender and the Law.
