Collaboration Brings Awareness to Program

SLCC, Grand Theatre and the Utah Attorney General's Office all came together last week to promote the CUT IT OUT program. CUT IT OUT is a free program that provides domestic abuse training for salon students and professionals. The program originated in Alabama in 2002 and went nationwide the following year.

The evening started off with training for student and professional stylists. This was followed by a brief press conference featuring several speakers, including our attorney general.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says that 800 individuals in Utah have already been trained and the plan is to have all students and professionals in the state trained. Shurtleff quoted Steinbeck from his book "Travels with Charley."

"The hairdresser is the most influential person in the community. When women go to the hairdresser… they feel safe, they relax. Women tell a hairdresser things they wouldn't dare confess to a priest, and they are open about matters they'd try to conceal from a doctor."

Judy Katsen Bell is the executive director of the Utah Domestic Violence Council and briefly spoke that night.

"When one person exerts control over another through physical, verbal or financial abuse our communities lose their sense of being whole and a bit of darkness creeps in," said Bell.

"Programs like CUT IT OUT enrich our lives one person at a time as well, by making us realize that issues like domestic violence ultimately impact all of us. Together we must stop problems like domestic abuse; each of us individually and as members of our community," said Julie Glenn, president of the board of trustees for the Grand Theatre Foundation.

Keynote speaker Sarah Southerland spoke about her experience in overcoming abuse and agrees with Glenn.

"It will take an entire community to change this epidemic," said Southerland.

SLCC President, Cynthia Bioteau was in attendance and plans to have Southerland speak to the student body.

After the press conference patrons could get their hair cut or nails manicured for a donation to CUT IT OUT. Even bald Attorney General Spokesperson Paul Murphy, said he would be willing to get a haircut.

Students of SLCC's Barbering and Cosmetology Program provided the beauty services from March 15-18. Totals from the four days of service equaled $177.