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PAGE 2 WIPNISDAY, \PRII l r >, 2007 Domestic abuse alive in Carroll County, Part 2 By Tracy Ammons Staff Writer tanmums I @my. westga.edu Part 2 of 2 In the last issue, a resident of Carroll County told her story about her experiences with domestic abuse and the battered women's shelter. She went through two marriages that ended in abuse. Today, her story continues with two more relationships. After she divorced her second husband, time went on and she met another man, who later became her third husband. Substance abuse became a serious problem in their marriage, and abuse surged to the forefront. “I can remember climbing underneath the front porch and sleeping on the ground, so he wouldn't hurt me. I'd take a pillow and a blanket and climb underneath the front porch because he couldn't get in there —it was too small for him to get into it. And I'd sleep all night on the ground. I was 30 No obstacle too big for Kurt Shifflett as goals reached By Matt Blair Guest Writer With graduation less than one month away. West Georgia is about to say gixxlbye to one of the most inspiring students to ever cross its campus. Inspiration comes in many forms, but perhaps nothing strikes more to the core of the human race than those who overcome. To persevere is "to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or MONEY FOR COLLEGE The Georgia Army National Guard k can provide you with the skills, training, and experiences that college can't. Plus, you will recieve kp# ' i ViJ part-time pay, money for college, and other excellent military benefits. And with over 100 job specialties to MStifF choose from, there's no better way Wfr W V jfl to prepare for your future. Call SFC Br JB Robinson at 678-350-5328. t Tuition Assistance - Montgomery Gl Bill Enlistment Bonus up to $20,000 www. 1-800-GO-GUARD.com Execuverge t£C| Register Online Now @ Contact us with any questions about our sessions, workshops or registration (404)718-9333 email us: info@execuverge.com ®lje West (Gmnjtau The University of West Georgia University Community Center, Room 111 Carrollton, GA, 30118-0070 Editorial Line: (678) 839-6527 Advertising Manager: (678) 839-4783 Editorial E-mail: uwgpaper@westga.edu Advertising E-mail: paperads@westga.edu On the web at http://www.thewestgeorgian.com something years old.” One day she drove Bremen to check on her daughter, who was babysitting. Her husband did not want her to go, but she went anyway. When she returned to the house, things got ugly. “I was the only one at the house. All the sudden, the back door rips off the wall. And I started running, and he grabbed a hold of me. I probably had about 60 bruises on me. My clothes were ripped. Every piece of furniture in the house was flipped over. All the lamps were broken. There w as food on the ceiling. He ran outside and pulled the spark plug wires out of my car and threw them on top of the house so 1 couldn't leave. So I would run, and he would chase me down the road, and pick me up and carry me back and throw me into the wall.” She finally contacted the police, and they arrested him —he did 28 months in prison. "The next day when I came to work I had bruises discouragement.” At least this is the definition according to Meiriitm-Webster dictionary . But definitions do not inspire, examples do. At West Georgia there are several examples of perseverance shining brightly, but perhaps none light this campus more than the one from Kurt Shifflett. Shifflett, who turns 25 this week, will soon be graduating with a degree in international economical finance. Six months after his birth Shifflett was given a routine polio vaccination. from my shoulders to my hips—and all up and down my arms. There’s nothing I could say —my husband beat the hell out of me, and now he’s in prison.” She divorced her third husband while he was in jail. Later, she met a man who would become her fourth husband. After a few months of happiness, abuse crept into the home. "It got so bad that the cops were at the house three or four times a week. And there’s no satisfying a man that does that, it just doesn't matter. He would send me to my room because he didn’t like what I did. And rather than cause any trouble because the kids were there, I would go to my room. So Em in there reading, and I don't even care. He comes around in the trailer and busts the window out on top of me. The whole window. And it landed down on my chest. He did it because I didn’t care —he punished me and I was happy with it. So I cleaned up the glass and However, things were far from routine. The vaccine caused him to stop breathing and subsequently caused him to develop cerebral palsy. When he outgrew his baby stroller, he moved straight to a wheelchair. Sounds grim, right? Sounds unbearable right? Wrong! I asked Kurt how he feels about his lot in life, and he said nothing about his condition. Instead he stated, "I feel lucky to be bom in America and to be given an opportunity to be something.” 1 asked Kurt if he could change one thing about his life what it would be and why. He once again impressed me by saying, "Nothing. If you change one thing, you change the whole person.” Shifflett is well respected. “Everyone loves him,” said Jason Walton, campus minister at Christian Jesse Duke, Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Smith, Advertising & Business Manager Larry Peel, News Editor Erik Waters, A&E Editor Josh Grubb, Photo Editor Rebecca Cheek, Copy Editor Lauren Lovvom, Webmaster Doug Vinson, Advisor Masthead Art by Jesse Duke we went on.” She lived with this man for 2 years, and they fell into a routine. “We would get anew place and start over. And everything would go good for about 2 or 3 weeks,” she said. “And then something would snap and it would go right back to how it was. And I put up with it for 3 or 4 months and I packed the kids up and left. And then he would apologize and we would move somewhere else and try again.” One day she finally decided to end it. “I was in the bedroom, and 1 decided I had enough,” she began. “But I couldn't get out of the bedroom to leave. And I couldn’t figure out how to get the kids. They were in the living room playing. So I climbed out the bedroom window. 1 had a bunch of car keys made—because he took the keys away so I couldn't leave. 1 had 16 sets of keys made. And I went around the trailer and got in the car. And when I cranked the car up he Campus Eellowship (CCF). "He could have all these excuses, but doesn't use tiny of them, and w e use all of our excuses when we don't really have any.” Walton also says of Kurt, "He is one of the most impacting students I’ve been around. He loves people, even if they ’re different.” Shifflett is also a very motivated student. He attends his classes regularly, even when there are so many excuses he could use to miss class. However, Shifflett doesn't seem to be able to use an excuse. Dr. Bashu Dutt, of the economics department says of Kurt. “I was very impressed with his tenacity.” Dr. David Boldt. the chair of the economics department has had Kurt for several classes and had this to say, "Despite his adverities, he stays positive.” Shifflett doesn’t just leave his motivation in the classroom. He is an active member of Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), and fulfills not one, but two leadership roles. Shifflett is the evangelism coordinator and president at one of the hugest, if not the laigest, religious organizations on campus. And the role fits him. Kurt says that Jesus is his hero, “because without Him life will have no purpose.” He also said that his favorite thing to do is to evangelize and he also feels that it is his greatest talent. He’s well respected within the BCM as well. “1 came to the door raising hell —and I squealed off and left. And I called 911 and told them that I needed some help getting my kids out of the house cause my husband was beating me up. So they sent a policeman to come and get me. And they sent four cars of cops w ith me to go get my kids out of the house.” Her husband was arrested for multiple offenses for driving under the influence, and she left him. "When you get out of it, and then you look back, then you can see it,” she said. "But until you get out of it, you don't realize how bad it is. Looking back, and because I’ve been in so many violent relationships, there’s not even a timeline in my mind that I can keep a hold of.” Now she is out of harms way. Her children are grown, and they have their own children. But the cycle of abuse is still there. She witnessed it as she was growing up; both Photo hx Oln ia Chilako think Kurt is highly motivated for achievement,” said Tony Branham, campus minister at the BCM. "He was on course for graduation in three years, but he slowed down so that he could do more ministry.” Branham also said, "he literally can talk to anybody, and isn't afraid to.” Kurt loves people, according to Branham, “He’s a hugger, he loves to get his hugs.” So what makes Shifflett so special / What makes him able to completely disregard his own “disabilities?” Perhaps it's because of his love for others! Sean Thornton, the campus intern at the BCM, had this to say, “1 'd say Kurt is concerned about other people, not just outside but inside, because one of his main goals Copyright Notice The West Georgian, copyright 2007, is an official publication of the Univ ersity of West Georgia. Opinions expressed herein are those of the newspaper staff or individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of university faculty or staff. Letter Submission Policy The West Georgian welcomes letters to the editor. Letters may be mailed to: Editor. The West Georgian. University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA, 30118, or sent via electronic mail to: uwgpaper(S:westga.edu All letters must be signed and include a phone number and mailing ad dress for verification purposes Letters should not exceed 350 words and should be submitted by 5 p m the Sunday prior to publication Editors reserve the right to edit for style, content and length Till; WIST (,IQK(,IA\ her daughters witnessed it while they were growing up. “Because you grew up in it, you accept it,” she said. “And when it happens, you think —well, my mother put up with this, it’s just the way it is.” But the cycle can be broken. The only way domestic violence will stop is if those who have grown up in abusive environments, those who are batterers, those who have the tendencies— will break the cycle. And it can be done. Help is out there—counseling services, church groups, support groups—they can help break the cycle. If you or someone you know is involved in a domestic violence situation, call 911 for immediate danger, or for the shelter and resources, call 770-834-1141. “If you’ve been abused, it’s not your fault.” said Martha Boyce, director of the women’s shelter. “Women are overcoming abuse in their lives everyday.” is to see people right with God.” Thornton also added. “He’s compassionate to other people, a spiritual compassion.” Kurt Shifflett is a man who is hard to overlook. He never complains. He's active across die board on this campus. He’s involved in two ministries and a fraternity. Delta Chi, find he’s an excellent student. He does more than most of as with full use of our bodies. He loves and cares about others unabashedly. He’s a lover and a fighter. He’s a Christian and a friend. He's a student and a leader. But perhaps the dearest thing about this man among men is that through it all he still takes the time to be, "a hugger.”