WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Dec. 13, 2017 — West Liberty University’s Psychology Club had domestic violence victims on its mind recently as it collected needed supplies for the YWCA of Wheeling’s recently.
“Our club collected these items for the past month or so and relied on the entire campus to contribute as they wished. These donations will benefit the domestic violence emergency safe shelter in Wheeling, an organization that is there everyday for all of us,” said Michelle Yadrick, who is president of the club that performs service throughout the year as part of its community outreach.
About 20 students are active in the club, according to Yadrick and its faculty advisor is Dr. Tifani Fletcher.
“I love the fact that WLU is partnering with the YWCA in this way. College campuses have a tendency to block out the rest of the world and focus on their own campus life. It seems sometimes that colleges also want to handle their own problems that might pop up internally. But this outreach shows awareness of the problem of domestic violence. It says a lot about the leadership of the college and its willingness to get involved,” said Lori Jones, executive director of the YWCA.
Both students feel motivated to help others in their careers. This particular service project was suggested by Chief Human Resources Officer Diana Harto, who serves as the Title IX coordinator for campus.
Yadrick, who also serves on the West Virginia Women’s Commission, will graduate in May and then begin the process of entering graduate school with the eventual goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. A native of Weirton, she has her options narrowed down to University of Buffalo, Kent State or Bowling Green University.
Vice president of the club is Wheeling resident Randy Dlesk. He also will graduate in May and plans on entering the WLU physician assistant studies graduate program.
“We are grateful that students and staff helped us fill the bins and stock the shelter for the winter months,” Dlesk said. Items collected include: women’s and children’s clothes, coats, hats, gloves, laundry detergent, diapers, feminine hygiene products, toothpaste, toilet paper and children’s toys and crafts for the holidays.
According to Jones, “we serve 1,500 clients with issues of family violence every year. Several hundred of these utilize the emergency shelter, so this assistance is very meaningful.”
“Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a person can either call or walk-in to the YWCA to receive help, though at night unexpected guests have to ring a doorbell to receive assistance. But there is an 800 number to call 24-7 that is answered by a real person,” she added. That number is 800-698-1247.
The Psychology Department is housed in WLU’s College of Sciences and offers a quality undergraduate psychology program offering both a BA and BS in Psychology. For more information, please call 1.866.WESTLIB or click westliberty.edu.