Barry University Hosts College Brides Walk to Raise Awareness of Domestic and Dating Violence

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Community event spotlights alarming rate of domestic and dating violence that kills more women ages 15-44 than cancer, war and traffic accidents combined

More than 1,000 South Florida college students, high school groups and community members are expected to show their support and participate in the Eighth Annual College Brides Walk on Feb. 23. The event, which commemorates the death of Gladys Ricart who was murdered by a jealous ex-boyfriend on her wedding day, raises awareness about the disturbing rate of domestic and dating violence.

“Studies show that American women are twice as likely to suffer domestic abuse than breast cancer,” said Dr. Laura Finley, associate professor of sociology and criminology at Barry University. “With the #MeToo movement, every day more and more women feel empowered to come forth and denounce their abusers. We want to raise awareness about domestic abuse to end the vicious cycle of violence.”

According to Dr. Finley:

  • 43% of college dating relationships are abusive
  • In the U.S., more women are injured from domestic violence than from car accidents, rapes, and muggings combined
  • Every nine seconds, a woman is physically assaulted by an intimate partner in the U.S.
  • As much as 38 percent of all murders of women around the globe are domestic violence-related
  • In the United States, one in four women, and one in seven men, will be victims of domestic violence
  • Victims of domestic violence are three-times more likely to suffer from depression, four-times more likely to commit suicide, and six-times more likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Finley will join Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, President of Barry University, to deliver opening remarks. Roger DeHart, Broward Country Bailiff, will speak on the impact this event has on the local community. The walk begins at Barry University’s Broad Auditorium and will end at Johnson & Wales University. The schedule for the event will be as follows:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Registration and Sign In, Broad Auditorium
  • 10:00 a.m. – Greeting by Dr. Laura Finley
  • 11:00 a.m. – Walk to JWU. Lunch provided and shuttles back
  • 11:00 a.m. – Bystander Intervention Workshop for nonalkers
  • 12:30 p.m. – Free lunch and additional activities

ABOUT BARRY UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Barry University offers more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Based in Miami, Fla., the University is composed of two colleges and six schools in the areas of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Law, Nursing and Health Sciences, Podiatry, Professional and Career Education (PACE), and Social Work. The University enrolls approximately 7,500 students from nearly all 50 states and 80 countries, and has more than 65,000 alumni worldwide.


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