Dating Violence

Last year I was going out with a guy who I really cared for. Unfortunately the relationship was a ‘‘vio- lent’’ one where when ever he was drinking.

He never really hitme. He slammed me against the car and hit me with objects like his hat in the face which stung alittle. He was always so controlling, I had to call him all the time and he would get mad if I was late. I was no longer allowed to hang around with my friends. When I was with then it always ended with him and I fighting. I really thought I loved him he loved me I never saw my the relation- ship as violent even though my friends said so. Not until he tried to rape me.

Our relationship was probably about to end before this happened but it just pushed things along. He knew how I hated going fast in cars and one night he wanted to have sex I said no, he started to drive before I could get out of the car. He was driving fast around corners without slowing down and yelling for me to take my shirt off. I was crying and screaming for him to stop, I was yelling telling him no I wasn’t taking my shirt off finally he took me home. We broke up shortly after. I tried to remain friends though. We talked and called each other once and awhile even when I started going out with someone else. One night when we were both working the late shift and it was raining he asked me if I wanted a drive home, because we had been broken up a while and I was dating someone else I didn’t think anything of it and accepted the drive. When we were going home he asked if I wanted to stop to get something to eat l agreed so we went through a drive thru and went to park the car somewhere. After we were done eating he started talking, could we get back together? I said no! Thejnext thing I knew, he was on top of me trying a second time to rape me I screamed and fought finally he got up and took me home. I never told anyone about this second incident.

[know he now has another girlfriend, I hope for

hersake he has changed. If he hasn’tI hope she reads this and ends the relationship before she goes through what I did. I hope he reads this so he knows what he

1 , | heeadacbeahed

HOPE

After you raised your voice to me, Then your hand, Then your fist, I lost respect

For you,

For myself,

For us ... what we once were And never will be again.

Reprinted with permission of Tearmann House

Self Defense (Rape Awareness) Course, by Ron Fagen of Dartmouth,

N.S. will be offered within the next few weeks to all females of the UPEI community. It will consist if mental and physical defense preparation. Any in- quires can be made at the UPEI S.U. (The Barn) 566-0530. It will cost $15 per person. It is abouta 3 hour session.

Prince Edward Island Rape/Sexual Assault Centre

566-8999

Anderson House 892-0960 Hospital 566-6200 |

Ambulance 892-5311 Police (city) 368-2677 RCMP 566-7100 ' Security (UPEI) 566-0384 566-0373 Health Centre 566-0616

UPEI X-P RESS

October 24, 1991

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