Domestic Violence Is A Problem On NJ College Campuses

TEANECK, NJ — The woman who reported a local college student had a gun in his dorm and attacked her twice is just one of too many women who face domestic violence on New Jersey college campuses, according to experts, local and national data.

Psychiatrist Julye Myner, Executive Director of Bergen County's Center For Hope And Safety, says her organization receives pleas for help from about a hundred college students, mostly women, every year.

And she's sure there are more.

"That just barely scratches the surface," Myner said. "Too many of us find ourselves in these situations, through no fault of our own, and we should all know what to watch out for and where help is available."

From the outside, college campuses can look like intellectual idylls, but insularity and the vulnerability of newly independent students can lead to, and protect, violence, Myner said.

"Many of them are away from family, friends and everything they once knew," Myner said of the students who come to her for aid. "I want them all to be aware of the help available and know that they are not alone."

Domestic violence among teenagers is so prevalent in the U.S., it even has its own month: February. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month sheds light on the alarming rates of domestic violence situations and abusive relationships on college campuses.

In fact, 43% of college women who are dating have reported experiencing violence or abuse at the hands of their partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Similarly, nearly 1 in 3 college women (29%) say they’ve been in an abusive dating relationship.

Despite the prevalence of teen dating violence, only 33 percent of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.

Relatedly, news reports on domestic violence cases on Bergen County college campuses are few and far between, even as much of media coverage is dedicated to crime.

The reasons can be manifold, ranging from the personal ("embarrassment, fear of retaliation, economic dependency") to the societal ("imbalanced power relations for men and women in society, privacy of the family, victim-blaming attitudes"), according to a British Medical Journal editorial.

In light of this, Myner said, the center works hard to increase awareness, reduce the stigma and promote resources, particularly its hotline (201-944-9600) for safety planning and risk assessment.

Myner emphasized that the hotline is not only for emergencies, but for anyone who wishes to speak to a trained counselor to evaluate their situation and make sure they are in a safe environment.

The hotline, she said, tends to be the center's main offering that provides support to students, with approximately 20% of callers being students.

Comprising a large share of those calls, Myner added, are young women who are victims of tech-based abuse when intimate pictures are used by a partner or ex-partner to manipulate.

Myner said the center also sees students accessing the organization's safe housing program, when they don't feel safe living on or off campus.

"We provide a welcoming place to students who feel unsafe where they are living," Myner said.

Additionally, although 82 percent of parents feel confident that they could recognize the signs if their child was experiencing dating abuse, 58 percent of parents could not correctly identify all the warning signs of abuse.

So, the center, Myner said, helps to identify — for victims and loved ones of victims — the common indicators, which, in the case of many college students, is alienation and/or isolation. Abusers in these types of situations often exhibit controlling behavior or severe jealousy, or invade the victim's privacy, she added.

"Recognizing and having loved ones aware of the signs early on to help guide in the right direction," Myner said. "This information is important to everyone."

Resources for Bergen County Colleges and Universities:

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck

• Student Counseling and Psychological Services — 201-692-2174
• Public Safety — 201-692-2222

Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah

• Counseling Services — 201-684-7522
• Public Safety — 201-684-6666

Bergen Community College, Paramus

• Personal Counseling — 201-447-9257
• Emergency Services — 201-447-9200