Unhealthy hookups a campus concern

For 18-year-old Britney, her relationship with Dan was a dream. The couple had fun together: Dan had an edgy style that Britney couldn't resist, and he treated her like royalty.

About six months into the relationship, however, things began to change. After a fight, Dan became physical and started what would become a four-year nightmare for Britney, now a senior at California University of Pennsylvania. (The couple's names were changed to protect their identities.)

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and cited by the Domestic Violence Resource Center determined that 25 percent of women have experienced some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. The study also found that college-age women are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.

Intimate partner or sexual violence can range from verbal belittling, punching and slapping to forced sexual relations, among other acts.

Find out more at the Observer-Reporter Web site.