0 p U )• le -,„„„„„„„,„„,„,!„:;,„„„,,;.:,,,...,::::,„,,.,.. • ..,„...„..:.. , oo ..„:„.„..... ~.„. . .. ........... .., ~..... ...... ............... •..• ... .. ........... 0... ... . .•• . ..... . iit ... . ...,... ••.. • ~.. ....... •• . • . s. ...... • •„ ....„ . .""......."... ......... .. .............................„,:„......„::::....,:: ..„..„. ~.......... .. ...,... ...........:.,,,...:.,,,,:,,.....„.. ..... .. .....,... .....,„........ ....•,..... ..: ...„„:::::::,.................,„.,„:„..: . ..,..,...,,„,,„:,.....„.....„,. . .............._ . ::„.......... . . . People express concerns over safety Jen Brandt and Denise Kessler Capital Times Reporters In the aftermath of two reported assaults on university worhen, students, faculty, and staff questioned the way the administration released information, police protection and safety measures on campus. "Pm disappointed in the way it was handled by those who released the information," said Andy Lauck, professor of Solar Engineering. "It seemed like someone knew what had happened way before they said anything to anyone else," he said. "I think what they learned from that is that it's better to just be up front and let everyone know what's happening honestly and fairly." "In tne lona run the most tin . the p e ople un campus Portant thing je tt s el o riri ci .40 . d t • • .. 11 satetvizot-'" 3 §' -3- :"* people are an h.- co t e ... m i.* st :... secure.so 'w/IP *pit. to "The college has a responsibility to "I believe some of the local police inform students of these kinds of things should be involved," said a staff member in a timely way," explained Dr. Mahar, within the humanities division, who head of the humanities division. asked not to be identified. "I think the college has to be open and honest with any press inquiries that come," he said. "In the long run the most important thing is the personal safety of the people on campus and the college must take steps to see that people are secure. " Fearing for their position, several faculty members asked not to be identified. ,flabbergasted about what has happened and bewildered why valid information wasn't made known about the rape that occurred back in September," said a professor within the public policy division, who asked not to be named. "It was very strange that at first it was considered alleged and then they weren't sure it happened. It raised a whole bunch of questions and then I didn't hear any more about it until the news," the professor added. YWCA Crisis Services helps in healing rape victims Chris Stine Capital Times Staff It began on a hot afternoon in August. Andrea, 20-years-old, had been hitch hiking along the road near Maui, trying to reach the town of Lahaina. It was an acceptable practice to thumb a ride in Hawaii in 1976. Two men and a woman in a pickup truck offered Andrea a ride. One of the men got in the back of the truck with her. After fifteen minutes, the man, who had just been released from prison, forced himself on her. Andrea suffered a brutal assault that included being bitten, struck, and finally, raped. Half an hour later, she managed to escape and called the police. Andrea is fictitious name for the woman who now lives in the Harrisburg area. She is one of the countless number of women raped in the United States each year. Andrea overcame her physical and psychological damage through proper treatment after her ordeal. She agreed to speak about her tragedy in order to help Penn State students understand the horror of rape. Andrea said she felt lucky to have escaped the man in the pickup truck. But her luck didn't hold out. Andrea was brutalized a second time. Four years later, Andrea was raped by her sister's boyfriend. They had been drinking and she had become ill. The man attacked her despite her protests. The memory is a bitter one for Andrea, who said it was worse than the first rape. Students attacked the use of the word "accost" in a news flyer that informed students of the reported Sept. 20th rape. "There's a heck of a big difference between 'accosted' and rape!" said Jackie Sterner, a senior math science major. People said they were also angry over campus police service. "One thing that surprised me was that the rape happened in the upper parking lot overlooking the Capital Union Building, and that's right across from the police station!" explained a senior finance student, adding that he was surprised that the rape occurred close to the station without any police noticing. Several instructors, who feared jeopardizing their position, asked not to be identified. • LDr• . vv! 1 _ 111 1 1 0 . Head • • 01 Humahittes.::DMiiiongt Campus police may not have the necessary experience to handle a rape case, the staff person said. "The area around the campus is not a bad area...it [rape] hasn't happened here often, so they probably don't know how to deal with it well," the staff person added. "It seems like there is very light police coverage on this campus based on the statistics I've read in the news," explained another public policy professor. He and several others interviewed feel that an understaffed campus police force may contribute to the uprising fear for personal safety. Brenda Hanson, a senior math science major, explained that her car wouldn't start one night after class. Like many other students, Hanson said she waited around for over two and a half hours without seeing one police car. "Because he was someone I was supposed to trust and he forced himself on me," Andrea said. Rape is, first and foremost, a crime of violence. Without proper counseling, the damage done could scar a victim for years. Blame is one of the biggest problems. "It does vary depending on the individual," said Rita Shell, psychology professor at Penn State Harrisburg. "But it is common for a woman to feel very ashamed. Oftentimes she feels like she did something to provoke the attack." This feeling was shared by Andrea and her parents when she called them after the first rape. "They blamed me," said Andrea. "They thought it was my fault, but I thought it was my fault because I was hitch-hiking alone." The rape by her sister's boyfriend also caused problems between her and her sister. "I really thought that one was m y fault because I was drinking and I gave him a place to stay," Andrea said. "My sister still has a big hang-up about it. It created a lot of problems." Rape has nothing to do with sex. It is about power. Seldom is a victim singled out. More likely, the rapist is an individual with mental or emotional problems who feels the need to abuse someone to satisfy their need for control. Along with blame, feelings of fear and shame can adversely affect a victim. Sometimes women feel ashamed to express any femininity in their Lakshmana Viswanath, director of the computer lab, suggested that patrolling officers should be more visible, especially during late hours. "There will be a lot of students working now until the end of the semester...we close at midnight, so after that they are trying to get back to their homes." "I think it's not a secure place and that we should beef up security," he added. Students of the Resident Student Council (RSC) started a petition about boosting security. James Glackin, senior-secondary education, along with several other students of RSC, drew up a petition calling for increased security and patrols r;;:> ; .s<: and a student-based response group on safety matters. The petition yielded over 1200 signatures, and Glackin has met with several administrators to discuss its issues Liz Kibler, senior--humanities, helped start the petition and said that RSC has made similar requests in the past. "We've been requesting new lights by the dorms since last year's quorum with Leventhal. And cutting down the bushes... we've been asking that since last year's quorum," she said, adding that the petition was in response to th e ignored requests. Lights were added and trees were cut only a day after students fired gripes about the two assaults in an open forum in the Dining Commons with Don Holtzman, director of student affairs. Holtzman was the sole administrator who took heat from over 100 angry students. "I noticed that about four o'clock that evening they started chopping down the appearance for fear of becoming a target again. Those feelings erode a woman's self-worth and confidence. "There are cases of women trying to cover up and forget," Shell said. "A friend of mine was a rape victim. She went to her door one morning and opened it. And an intruder forced his way into her home and raped her. Afterwards, she was joking about it. But it was clearly an attempt on her part to forget the horrible feelings sh e experienced." To help heal the physical and emotional scars of rape victims, local rape crisis centers are readily available to assist anyone who needs help. Debbie Bauer, the rape crisis manager at the Harrisburg YWCA, offers this information: "We offer a 24-hour hotline, as well as short term counseling. And all our services are confidential. We also offer escort services to the hospital." Andrea's trauma occurred over 13 years ago. Today, she is married and a mother. "If a woman is raped, she should talk about it with someone she trusts," Andrea said. "Talk to a rape crisis ce nter, and don't blame herself for any reason, because she's a victim. It's not because she's wearing sexy clothes." Harrisburg Rape Crisis Services can be reached at 717-238-7273 or 800-654- 1211. irfti