'Yellow Dress' leads to discussion on dating violence at Shrewsbury High By Pam Pollan, Contributing Writer 04/7/2006

Shrewsbury - Students at Shrewsbury High School learned about relationship violence through a one-woman play, "The Yellow Dress," performed at the school March 27. Presented by Deana's Fund, named after a young woman who lost her life as a victim of relationship violence, the play was presented twice, once in the afternoon for the High School's juniors and seniors and again that night for parents to learn about the program their teens had seen.
   Students split into small group discussions with their English classes after watching the play. Some of the groups also participated in an interactive attitude and beliefs game, according to Patricia Degon, the director of health and physical education for the Shrewsbury Public Schools.
   Paula Tot, a physical education teacher at the school, said the program was very informative.
   "I think they can see how bad it [relationship violence] becomes if it is let go," she said.
   Senior Abby Cosenza said the play showed how the relationship violence escalated from verbal to physical abuse, ending in the death of the girl.
   "I think it was important because a lot of girls are in that situation but don't realize they are in that situation," she said.
   Teens expressed concern that might be too afraid to tell their boyfriend to stop being abusive, out of fear of retaliation, and they might be reluctant to come forward and ask for help, if they feared they would not be believed, she said.
   Senior Nate Lavner said the play exposed how some guys try to control girls through their behavior and who they can hang out with.
   "A lot of guys who go out with girls could be doing it without even knowing it," Lavner said.
   Junior Corey Abbascia said the presentation was a very moving assembly.
   "Some guys don't realize what they are doing," he said. "I think it shows guys what girls go through. It's a horrible thing to go through. It teaches you never to be that abusive partner."
   During the evening presentation, Shrewsbury Police Chief A. Wayne Sampson; school psychologist, author and expert on adolescent violence David K. Curran; and Director of Health and Public Education for the Shrewsbury Public Schools Patricia Degon answered questions from parents about what can be done about dating violence and what the teens had shared with them earlier in the day.
   According to Sampson, there has been a decrease in repeat violent offenders, but an increase in violent and sexual assault by teens in Shrewsbury over the past three years.
   "I think this is a new focus we are trying to hone in on," he said.
   Sampson explained that 35 years ago police were not allowed to take action unless they had witnessed violence first-hand. Today, there is much better education and awareness about the problem and police tend to believe the victim's story and work backwards during an investigation.
   "The law throughout the country has become victim-friendly," he said.
   Curran said he hoped kids are getting better at understanding what types of incidents should be not be tolerated and need to be reported.