Fly by night
The “Silent Witness” silhouettes have stood solemnly at various locations on campus starting Sept. 19 to illustrate the stories of 40 victims of abuse and bringing attention to the campus-wide effort to stop violence.
Brought to campus largely by the efforts of University of Idaho VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood, the wood used to create the silhouettes was donated by UI Facilities and black paint donated by Inland Oasis. But these silhouettes were more than blocks of wood.
They represent the stories of victims whose lives were lost to domestic abuse.
Three of the silhouettes were stolen sometime between Sept. 21 and Monday afternoon. Two silhouettes and their stands were taken, one from in front of the library and the other by the entrance to the Teaching and Learning Center. The last silhouette was stolen from the Einstein’s entrance to the Idaho Commons, but its stand was left behind.
Domestic abuse is more than violent behavior. It can include wrecking someone’s emotional stability, the financial control of another and even psychological intimidation.
Nearly 74 percent of Americans know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence, according to the Domestic Violence Resource Center. More than three women and one man are murdered in the U.S. by their intimate partner every day on average.
These silhouettes presented a hard truth to students — the truth that domestic abuse can happen to anyone, and it is often difficult to escape an abusive relationship or situation.
The silhouettes were intended to educate students and the community in an attempt to stop the cycle of violence, and stealing these silhouettes is a despicable continuation of the negativity and destruction of the cycle. Take Back the Night is an event put on by UI as a fight against domestic abuse and assault, not to be mocked by petty thieves who devalue the stories and symbolism presented by the Silent Witnesses.
What seems to be a harmless prank is a gross sign of disrespect for the message of the silhouettes and the victims whose stories they represent.
Creating a better campus community — a safer campus community — begins at the lowest level, the very foundation of involvement. Stealing these silhouettes is irresponsible behavior that has no objective or benefit to anyone, and should be realized as an absolute waste of time and energy. As students, we should all be coming together to foster a more wholesome community. As students, we should all be working together to take back the night.
— CR
Tags: Silent Silhouettes, violence
Does what was most likely an act of drunken stupidity really represent and endorsement of domestic abuse? I understand that theft is wrong, but I also understand that all kinds of ridiculousness runs rampant across that campus on any given weekend. It is unfair to claim a student stole the hearts and souls of women all over the world by being an idiot. He or she is not a terrorist, nor are they guilty themselves of domestic abuse or sexual violence. They do however, live in an environment that encourages alcoholism. The leadership at the university has allowed idiocy and immaturity to dominate the social scene on campus for years, perhaps your contempt should be aimed at the faculty, and not at a drunk teenager.
Contrary to your closing statement, creating a safer campus does not begin at the bottom. Instead, it begins and ends at the top, with the people who are paid to do precisely that, create a safer community for students to thrive within and grow. Until more is demanded of the leadership of the university and the Greek Community, how can more be expected of the student body? Why condemn a student for the same type of behavior that has been allowed to the thrive at the U of I for years? I know the Arg staff is full of brilliant and ambitious young writers, so be bold, don’t take the cheap path preferred by most media outlets. Utilize your opportunity and your resources to do exactly what you call on the student body to do, create a better campus community by demanding such from your leadership.
Thank you and GO VANDALS!
Aaron