WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 12, ,2015 — This semester, three journalism majors, Tara Adamczyk, Nathan Johnson and Katie Ralbusky, are using their senior capstone projects as an opportunity to help raise awareness about domestic violence and to offer supplies to three area shelters.

Nathan Johnson and Tara Adamzcyk are shown with one of the domestic violence collection boxes in Shaw Hall. (Katie Ralbusky was unavailable for photo.)

According to Professor Tammie Beagle who is teaching the capstone class, “As part of their senior project, the three will work together on a special issue of the Trumpet (student newspaper), including editorials, feature articles, and an investigative journalism story on domestic violence by applying what they learned from their minors in criminal justice, social work and writing to their majors in journalism.”

Adamczyk’s minor is criminal justice and she plans to talk to sheriffs, prosecutors, victims and convicted criminals about what it’s like going through the court system with a charge of domestic violence.

“I’m excited to do this project because domestic violence sometimes doesn’t seem to get as much publicity as cancer and other charities. This project is a good way to give back to the community,” Adamczyk said. A resident of Weirton, W.Va., she was accepted into the communication technology graduate program at Point Park University, where she will continue her education in the fall.

Johnson, who also is from Weirton, plans on entering the field of journalism after graduation. He plans to seek work as a sports writer and his minor is social work.

“I’m excited about producing our domestic violence newspaper issue. I’ve seen people who have gone through domestic violence issues and I want to be there for those people. This project is a good way to focus on the problem,” he said. He plans on visiting domestic violence shelters and write about the day-to-day work with victims.

Ralbusky is a writing minor from Wheeling.

“It is such a critical issue in today’s society. Most people do not understand the implications behind it or the various types of domestic violence that occurs or how harsh the world can be on victims,” she said.

Along with the special issue of the Trumpet, tentatively scheduled to hit newsstands on April 16, and a formal presentation open to all who are interested at the end of the semester, the seniors are also collecting personal care items for the victims and donating them to YWCA in Wheeling and Change, Inc. in Weirton and Moundsville. The shelters are able to offer support by providing some essential personal items to the victims of domestic violence, such as shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and hairbrushes, but the need is consistently bigger than the supply cupboard.

“I’m very proud of these students for their willingness to step up and make a difference,” Beagle said. “When reporters can immerse themselves in their communities like this and gain a better understanding of the story’s many complexities, they can then explain better to their readers why we should all care, and they can hopefully open productive dialogue.”

Donations of toiletries and other personal care items will be accepted through March 31. Boxes have been placed around campus, or items can be given directly to Beagle, Adamczyk, Johnson, or Ralbusky. Anyone with questions about the donation or the project can contact Beagle at tbeagle@westliberty.edu, or any of the three seniors at their WLU email addresses.

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