Standing room only for March 19 panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault - "NO MORE" campaign

Dr. Ryan Fortson (at podium) welcomes attendees to the program.

 Over 150 people attended the March 19 "NO MORE Silence in the Dark" panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault held at the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

Panelists listen to a question from the moderator. L to r: Dr. Angelia Trujillo,
Officer Rhoda Street, Officer Dave DeLesline, Randi Breager, and Dr. Marny Rivera.

Speakers included Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner. Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, is the moderator.

L to r: Officer Rhoda Street, Dr. Marny Rivera, Kristen Speyerer,
Simona Gerdts (back row), Dr. Ryan Fortson, Dr. Angelia Trujillo, and
Officer Dave DeLesline stand in front of "No More"
statements made by the public.

 
The program was sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and Alpha Phi Sigma, Omega Xi chapter, national criminal justice honor society.

Senior Justice majors/Legal Studies minors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer planned and coordinated this event as part of their capstone project through the UAA Center for Community Engagement & Learning (CCEL). The students made contact with the "NO MORE" national campaign which has the goal of  increasing greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Simona and Kristen also connected with local media to increase awareness of the program and these issues on campus and to encourage the UAA community to engage in prevention efforts.

Volunteers for the event: (l to r) UAA students Lena Illig, Jilene Galle, Kristen Speyerer, Isabella Forshee (back row), Camilla Hussein-Scott, Simona Gerdts. (l to r) JBER volunteers Airman First Class Ty Melnyk (back row), TSgt Alan Gerdts, (both with 703 AMXS), Senior Airman Brittany Pritner with 673 MDG, and Senior Airman Lance Pritner with 703 AMXS.

The event was part of the "NO MORE" national campaign   Like us on the UAA Says No More Facebook page.  The hope is to make the "No More" campaign an annual event at UAA.

Far left and far right: representatives from JBER - Chief George Richey, 673 LRG,
and the Third Wing Command Chief, Chief Jose Barraza, USAF.
Ctr l to r: student coordinators Kristen Speyerer and Simona Gerdts.

Representatives from STAR and AWAIC made information
available to participants about their services.