Showing posts with label Violence and Abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Violence and Abuse. Show all posts
In 1992, Tina Croucher, a part-time student at Miami University Middletown, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend after he broke into her family’s home. Fifteen years later, Johanna Orozco, a Cleveland-area high school student, was shot in the face by a former boyfriend who had been recently released from prison for raping her. Both Tina and Johanna had been abused by their attackers during their relationships.
Johanna luckily survived her attack, but these incidents offer just a glimpse into what has become a disturbing reality for many teenagers and young adults. Last year, a series of stories in the Columbus Dispatch found that Ohio teens ages 15 to 19 are twice as likely to experience dating violence as they are to be injured in a car crash. And while adults who find themselves in an abusive relationship can obtain a protection order or take other measures to help keep their attackers away, no such option has been available to teenagers.
To help better protect teenagers who are victims of dating violence, the General Assembly recently passed House Bill 10, which gives juvenile courts the same authority to issue protection orders as common pleas courts. While this bill will not put an end to dating violence among young adults, it will provide victims with an additional layer of defense – an individual who defies a protection order and goes to a victim’s home or work, calls them on the phone or damages their property can be arrested immediately. House Bill 10 has been signed by the governor and will take effect in June.
Legislators are also working to help educate young people about the risks associated with dating violence and unhealthy relationships. Last year we passed House Bill 19, which requires schools to include dating violence prevention in their health curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12. Fittingly, House Bill 19 has been named “Tina’s Law” in recognition of Tina Croucher and her parents, who have spoken to thousands of southwest Ohio students about dating violence and how teenagers and young adults can stay safe.
The heartbreaking stories of Tina Croucher and Johanna Orozco and others who have experienced violence and abuse at the hands of their boyfriend or girlfriend are a stark reminder of the need to protect all victims of domestic violence and ensure that their abusers are held accountable. Although House Bill 10 and House Bill 19 will not prevent all abusive relationships, they will help increase awareness of this issue and save lives.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.
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A Good hair day at the Library
Except for one time in my life, I have always had long hair. My hair has been my security blanket in many ways. I could hide behind it when I was feeling shy, or it was my signature that everyone focused on when I didn’t have to be “on” with the other parts of me. Nothing made me feel better about myself then for someone to tell me my hair was beautiful. A bad hair day for me was a major event; it could make or break me.
So, many people were shocked when I told them I was going to get my hair cut short. I had just spent 5 weeks convalescing from bunion surgery, and my hair had gotten on my last nerve. Since it’s very heavy, coarse and curly, it became extremely hard to control, as if it had a mind of its own. Its annoyance had finally outweighed its beauty, and I decided to whack it off. Once I made up my mind I found a style I liked, printed multiple versions of it off the internet, and went to see my hair dresser. She was supportive about my decision, although hesitant to cut my hair until I reassured her repeatedly I wasn’t going to get up get upset.
We consulted over the pictures I took with me, and she cut my hair into a design that fit my needs and my face. I was pleasantly surprised I didn’t get upset and cry when I saw my hair lying in bunches on the floor, but I generally felt nothing but relief.
Before you do anything as drastic as I did, research different hairstyles either on the internet or in hair books. Find the perfect fit for your face and lifestyle.
One good book I looked at before making up my mind was, Great Hair, by Nick Arrojo, stylist for the show, What not To Wear, on TLC. His book runs the gamut of hair questions and answers. Nick’s hair philosophy is the same as mine, “The best way to get a great haircut is to match the texture and shape of your hair and not your face.” This will give you a low maintenance hairstyle that will work for you instead of against you. This is a philosophy I heartily embrace.
Since my hair is so thick and curly it would take me a huge amount of time every day to straighten it. Time that I don’t have. So I have always chosen a hair style that embraces my natural curl.
Some of Nick’s golden rules for taking care of your hair are:
• If your hair looks great long, who cares if you are over 40.
• Bangs cut wrong can make your eyes look too close together.
• A good haircut should last 6 weeks before needing another cut.
• When combing out tangles in your hair always comb from end to roots.
Throughout this book, Nick Arrojo gives timeless advice to having a beautiful head of hair. If you are planning on investing in a new hairdo, before making a big mistake, head on over to your local library and pick up this or numerous other hair care books.
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