Lecture provides information about domestic violence

Lilly Gonzalez, above, tells the story of a victim of domestic violence during a lecture Wednesday evening at Tusculum College. The domestic violence awareness lecture was coordinated by the Bonner Leader student service organization on campus to help increase the awareness of domestic violence issues. Gonzalez and Daniel Velez, owners of ASafeHarborHome and the Charity Treasures thrift store, were the speakers at the lecture as well as Kellie Ross, Tusculum’s director of health and wellness services and campus counselor. Velez provided information about the services provided at the non-profit ASafeHarborHome to help victims of domestic violence in northeast Tennessee start a new life once they leave an abusive situation. Ross spoke about the types of domestic violence, how it can be identified and noted that domestic violence occurs at all socio-economic levels, among all racial and ethnic groups and in relationships of both sexual orientations. She discussed how abusive relationships can be found portrayed as acceptable in popular culture and told the students what they can do if they suspect a friend or family member is in an abusive relationship.