WIN-R speaker relates personal story

By Tiffany Reed/reporter

The Women in New Roles Network started the academic year with a personal story about abuse Sept. 8 in Fort Worth.

Gayle Hall Repp, NE adjunct instructor and domestic abuse survivor, presented How Do You Like Me Now at Billy Miner’s Group Room in Sundance Square.

Repp started by singing along with a recording of Toby Keith’s single “How Do You Like Me Now.” When the music faded, she told the audience anyone can be touched by domestic violence.

“ One out of four women in the United States is affected in some way, shape or form by domestic violence,” she said.

Repp told the group she married a man who would eventually abuse her and recounted the first time she realized she was being abused. The situation started with making the wrong thing for dinner.

“ You do a lot of wrong things when you’re in an abusive marriage. Even when you think you’re doing everything right, it’s not,” she said. “You know if you’re talking on the phone and you shouldn’t be, that’s the wrong thing.”

The story of abuse ended for Repp when she finally left her husband.

“ He had a weapon out, and I should’ve been dead. I mean I shouldn’t even be here. It was a misfire,” she said.

“ He reloaded his own weapon … and then it misfired again, and I got into my car and dialed 911.”

Repp said she wanted to end with some “words of hope and wisdom” and let everyone know they are not alone. She introduced another survivor and asked the audience to applaud her.

Repp distributed literature from Safe Haven, a not-for-profit organization that supports victims and their families and promotes freedom from domestic violence.

When Repp asked for any questions or comments, a handful of women one by one stood up to say they were survivors, illustrating Repp’s statistic that one out of four women is affected by such violence.

Anyone who is a victim or knows a victim of domestic violence can find help by visiting Safe Haven’s Web site at www.safehaventc.org or calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Repp has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in administration and is working on her doctorate in general psychology with a family specialization.

The presentation was organized by Women In New Roles program coordinator Treisha Light and sponsored by the WINR Network. Visit www.win-r.org for more information on the program and upcoming events.