It's unfortunate that as a group of educated people, we have to be told to open our eyes to detrimental issues. October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but the cause needs just as much attention during the other 11 months of the year.

As a public, we need to realize our social skeletons and stop ignoring that which we find disturbing. Americans seem to be in a constant state of denial. It seems that our daily lives are too important and pressing to even think of anyone except ourselves.

But we should all know that domestic violence happens every day. It happens just like abuse, poverty and worldwide starvation. We should learn about domestic violence this month but also work on the problem all year long.

It is disappointing that we are too busy to recognize what is really wrong with our country. Although it is sad that it takes a special 31 days out of 365 to recognize such a serious social ill, at least it is beginning to happen.

It is good that MSU is stepping forward and attempting to play a crucial role in raising student awareness. There are several support groups around the area, including MSU Safe Place, which are great community resources.

MSU Safe Place, the campus center for victims of relationship and domestic violence, housed 58 women and children in 2002. In the same year, it provided advocacy and support services to 74 nonresident women and their families.

MSU also is having a domestic violence conference Oct. 27-31.

Victims of domestic violence should be assisted and offered support. It should be known that students and others have the ability to get help and feel secure.

If you know of anyone who has been victimized by or committed domestic violence, encourage them to take advantage of the services offered by the university as well as in the Lansing area. It might be that only one month out of the year advertises awareness, but all 12 are equally important in resolving this nationwide problem.