In observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Howard Payne University is hosting a special exhibit to pay tribute to the lives lost to domestic violence. The “Empty Shoes” display at the university’s Girling Center for Social Justice features a pair of shoes for each of the 10 Central Texas women and children who have died in the last 13 years as a result of such violence.

The university will hold a candlelight vigil on Thursday, October 4, at 6:30 p.m., outside the Girling Center on the Academy of Freedom campus. The community is invited to attend to help honor the memory of the victims.

The Empty Shoes display was provided by the ARK (Advocacy, Respect, Kindness) Domestic Violence Shelter in Brownwood, and will be at HPU until Friday. After that, the exhibit will be featured at Heartland Mall.

For more information, contact The ARK at (325) 643-2699.

Pictured above:  HPU students examine the Empty Shoes display at the university’s Girling Center for Social Justice.