Rockin’ Spring Event To Focus On Dating Violence

Special to the San Marcos Corridor News 

 

Two public relations teams at Texas State University are creating awareness for the issue of dating violence, which is of great concern on college campuses throughout the country. Both campaigns, one called “Empowered” is targeting students at Texas State University. The other with the theme “Love Doesn’t Hit” targets students at San Marcos High School.

               

Both campaigns have called on Catherin Shellman to “Unsilence the Violence” based on the tragic death of her daughter, Tiffanie Perry, who graduated from Texas State in 2010, from an abusive relationship. Mrs. Shellman recently presented “Unsilence the Violence: A first-hand experience with dating/domestic violence through the eyes of a mother” in a presentation to more than 70 students and faculty at San Marcos High School.

 

The event is wrapped around dating violence and features bands from the Central Texas area, including Seek Irony, one of the hottest rock bands out of Austin, with their new album “Tech’n’Roll.”

 

The Rockin’ Spring Event will include a concert, fashion show, and food will be included. It is being held at Dick’s Classic Car Garage and Museum, in San Marcos from 6 PM to Midnight, this Friday, April 10 and attendance is free.

 

Mrs. Shellman will be attending this significant event to support these two very important campaigns, “Little did I know that my daughter was going to meet her abuser and eventually her murderer,” Shellman told the high school students in an assembly earlier this week.

 

Tiffanie Perry, Shellman’s daughter, was a Dean’s List student at Texas State University and graduated with her degree in business management. “I had no idea of the abuse my daughter was experiencing throughout the relationship,” Mrs. Shellman said. Two weeks after Tiffanie decided to end the relationship, her boyfriend, Kenny Trevino, fatally shot her, then turned the gun on himself and killed himself.

 

“I think most people have an idea of what a victim is, like someone of a certain socioeconomic class,” Mrs. Shellman said. “There is no mold. No certain socioeconomic class holds the monopoly on this type of abuse.”

 

Mrs. Shellman has spoken to large groups at Texas State University, police departments and numerous high schools in and around Central Texas in an effort to bring greater awareness to dating and domestic violence. Shellman also volunteers at a variety of organizations, including Crime Victim Services at the San Marcos Police Department, Hope Hospice in New Braunfels and the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center, where she was recognized as volunteer of the Year.

 

“Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. Dating and domestic violence is a disease in our society of epidemic proportions. The good news is we can eradicate it. The first step in doing so is bringing awareness to it.” Mrs. Shellman said.

 

The event is being organized through an organization called B-love, Bobcats Leaving Out Violence Everywhere. Admission for this event is free.