University of Â鶹´«Ã½ students, faculty, administrators, regents and coaches helped to raise awareness on October 4 alongside hundreds of fellow community members in the 24th annual Men¡¯s March Against Violence. The march started at the state Capitol and ended at ʻIolani Palace.
“I want to participate in spreading the word, because I think a lot of the issue is about awareness,” said Kevin Card, UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM) first-year medical student, “Doctors have the first-hand response to instances of domestic violence in the roles we play in our community. We want this problem to come to a halt.”
Each year in Â鶹´«Ã½, about 50,000 women between the ages of 18 and 64 suffer from some form of domestic violence, and UH¡¯s own community has not been immune to the problem. Approximately 19 percent of UH students have experienced dating or domestic violence, according to the results of a groundbreaking survey by the university in the 10-campus system released earlier this year.
“The reason we¡¯re doing this is to bring awareness to the community and to engage the men in the community to support women and avert violence, in particular interpersonal violence, which is a significant problem and often not discussed enough,” said Jerris Hedges, JABSOM dean. “So to bring a crowd out of over 1,000 people, mainly men, making a statement, it really is important to the community.”
Director David Matlin and numerous UH athletes and coaches participated in recent marches. Eran Ganot, head men¡¯s basketball coach, participated in the march with wife Barb and daughter Zeza.
“This is my fourth march, and I¡¯ve been here for as many years,” Ganot said. “I¡¯ve marched every year with my staff, my players and my family. I march with my girls.”
A JABSOM video from the Men’s March
Go the the for more photos from the march.