Professor Takes a Stand Against Domestic Violence

October 24, 2011

Prof. Garland Waller, premieres her full-length documentary, No Way Out But One on Thursday, October 27 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s “Chicks Make Flicks” film series.

Waller’s documentary follows Holly Collins, a Minnesota mother of three, who is determined to protect her children from their abusive father. After the courts grant her husband custody, Collins kidnaps her kids and goes on the run, leaving the country and becoming an international fugitive. After years of struggle, Collins wins asylum from the Dutch government on the basis of domestic violence – the first American woman to achieve this status in the Netherlands.
An estimated that 58,000 children a year are ordered into unsupervised contact with physically or sexually abusive parents following divorce in the United States. “My commitment”, said Waller, “is to broaden awareness of the fact that if you beat your wife and abuse your children in America you are more likely to get custody than not. This is a shocking fact that most people have no idea about.”

For her work fighting domestic violence, Waller, an assistant professor of Television, has already received the 2011 Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Film and Media from the Institute on Violence Abuse and Trauma. And while Waller is extremely appreciative of her award, she is quick to share credit. Among a long list of people involved were co-producer, Barry Nolan (Waller’s husband), and editor and COM graduate student, Erika Street.

“To me, it’s a real honor to have been chosen by MIT to open this year’s film series”, said Waller “I hope that the mainstream media responds to this as a serious issue that needs to be explored.”

The screening is October 27 at 7 p.m. on the MIT campus, Room 6-120, Building 6, 182 Memorial Drive, (corner of Memorial Drive and Mass Ave.) Cambridge, MA 02139. Collins and her children will be in attendance. Waller will participate in a director’s Q & A session following the film.