University of Mary Washington senior Shelley Hillberry and junior James Sennett attended an invitation-only reception at the home of Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, September 22 to recognize the 16th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
The students were chosen for their involvement in Student Anti-Violence Educators (SAVE), a UMW club which seeks to educate and promote awareness of sexual assault and relationship violence.
The reception was held by the pool behind the vice president’s residence, located on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory.
“It was really intimate,” said Hillberry of Spotsylvania County. “[Biden] gave me a big hug. He was just hanging out, talking to people and mingling.”
The reception opened with a speech from Dr. Biden, who is a full-time English professor at a community college near the White House.
Her remarks were followed by a longer speech from the vice president, who impressed upon his guests the importance of the VAWA and the efforts made by SAVE and other student organizations represented.
During his tenure as senator from Delaware, Biden drafted the Violence Against Women Act, which was later signed by former President Bill Clinton under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
After the speeches, the Bidens joined their company for pictures, hors d’oeuvres and conversation.
“It was a lot of fun, it was not as formal as I thought it was going to be,” said Sennett of Vienna. “We met a lot of different groups; it was a great networking event for us.”
Also present among the guests at the reception was Scott Berkowitz, founder of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network; Lynn Rosenthal, the White House advisor on Violence Against Women; and Mariska Hargitay, actress in TVs Law and Order: SVU and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation.
“They encouraged people to network and talk,” Hillberry said. “What a wonderful opportunity to talk to Dr. Biden and Scott Berkowitz about what SAVE has implemented at UMW.”
In addition to the reception, Hillberry and Sennett were also invited to an afternoon “Listening Session,” meeting with Rosenthal as well as a panel of representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children, Youth and Families, the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, and the Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.
Sennett said there were around 50 or 60 people at the session to share opinions, ideas and resources in prevention education. The students and representatives had the opportunity to describe the contributions they have made on campus against dating violence and also exchange ideas on ways the government can help with prevention education.
“They basically listened to what we had to say, we were able to give a two-minute speech on how to move forward [with our efforts],” Sennett said.
“A lot of the focus was on early prevention education, like in high schools,” Hillberry said.
At the session, Hillberry and Sennett were among other students and representatives from organizations such as Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, a nonprofit organization with offices in Richmond and Charlottesville, which coordinates the anti-violence Red Flag Campaign on college campuses.
After listening to feedback from the students and representatives, the panel of government officials offered resources to the representatives.
Both Sennett and Hillberry were inspired to start their work against domestic and dating violence after a high-profile assault case occurred on campus in October 2008. Sennett helped found SAVE in 2009 and Hillberry currently serves as club president.