An ounce of prevention:
Students learn the best in physical self-defense at a demonstration
held immediately following the report of two campus attacks.
Don't prop the doors
E. Mikael Hein
Capital Times Columnist
I used to complain constantly
about having to walk around to the
front door to the dorms. After all,
the side door is right by the parking
lot.
I remember kicking, banging and
screaming when the door was
locked, and I remember propping it
open almost every day. Now,
however, I am singing a different
tune.
I remember kicking, banging and screaming
when the door was locked, and I remember
propping it open almost every day. Now,
however, I am singing a different tune.
Just under two months ago, there
was a rape on campus. And just
almost a month ago, there was an
assault practically right outside my
dorm window. Suddenly safety
became an issue to the women and
men of this campus.
While for the most part I have
encountered men who are genuinely
sympathetic to the fear felt by the
women on campus, I also have
heard a few that are not. Every day
somebody still props open the door
at the end of the hall and leaves.
And almost every day I hear one
Students giving police heat due to
Dawn Kopecki
Capital Times Reporter
Understaffed since June, the
University Police Services has been
under fire from students in light of
the two recent attacks on university
women.
Students have criticized the
department in several recent forums
held to discuss campus safety and
concerns stemming from the
assaults. University police have
been criticized as having inadequate
coverage, slow response time and
an incapable force stemming from a
Sexual assaults increasing on campuses
Dawn Kopecki
Capital Times Reporter
If the perpetrator of either recent
assault against two university women is
a Penn State student, he could face
expulsion, said Dr. Donald T. Suit,
director of judicial affairs at University
Park.
In fact, any person found guilty of
any kind of sexual assault would at least
face an immediate suspension from the
university, whether they committed the
act on- or off-campus.
"I wouldn't feel particularly
comfortable having a student that was a
rapist on-campus, just because it
happened off-campus," Suit said.
Although the act may not directly
affect a student or happen on-campus,
crimes like rape, murder, armed robbery
and drug sales as well as others could
"significantly effect" the student
community, Suit said. The university
would then levy sanctions against that
student, although the crime happened
off-campus.
"If the person may be a danger to our
community, then we would take
action," said Donald Holtzman, PSH's
director of student and judicial affairs.
Differing from the state's judicial
guy say to another, "gee, I guess
you should walk me to my car so I
don't get 'accosted.'"
It is to these clueless guys that I
am aiming at. Does it not matter to
you that the women on the second
floor of Church Hall live in fear of
a crime committed by a sick man?
Do you not realize that by refusing
to keep the doors locked, and
ridiculing the attacks, you are
degrading women and placing their
well being in jeopardy? Seeing as
how the crime committed was by a
man, don't you think it would be to
your advantage to do your part so
that women are not afraid of you?
Rape is a crime that affects
everyone. It harms women and robs
them of their dignity, and' it Makes
men look bad; especially when they
refuse to take action to help the
victim. While men may not live in
fear of being raped, although it does
happen guys, I think it would help
the entire community if you would
pay attention and show a little
respect for other peoples' safety and
well-being.
lack of funding and small staffs.
"Why is Police Services so
understaffed that they won't come to
the scene of a crime?" asked Dianne
Elliott, who lives in Meade
Heights.
Elliot explained at an open forum
that police refused to assist her in
an accident last month. After the
forum, Elliott received a message
on her answering machine from an
officer who apologized for not
responding to her call, she said.
Students also criticized police
services slow response time. It took
University Police Services almost
system, Penn State's conduct code only
needs "clear and convincing evidence" to
take punitive action against a student,
not evidence "beyond a reasonable
doubt."
With PSH's smaller and older student
population, the discipline board hears
less than a dozen cases a year, Holtzman
said.
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Far more common at University Park,
sexual assault or rape hasn't been
brought before the PSH judicial affairs
board in the past five years, Holtzman
said, adding that he's only been with
PSH for the past five years. He couldn't
say whether the board dealt with those
issues before then.
But rape and sexual assault are
becoming increasing problems on all
college campuses, Suit said.
PSH's first reported rape came last
April after the Harrisburg Community
Hospital reported that a university
woman was raped.
The acquaintance rape, in Meade
Heights, wasn't reported to students or
Photo by
Michael Starkey
Stacey L. Rodin
Capital Times Reporter
Students at Penn State Harrisburg received
a lesson on crime prevention from Karen
Edwards of Citizens Against Crime on
Monday, November Ist at 8 pm in the
Dining Commons.
In the United States a crime is committed
every 2 seconds. In Pennsylvania a crime is
committed every 76 seconds. Harrisburg has
the most crime per capita in the state. With
all this crime happening so close to home,
students need to find out information to help
them protect themselves. This is where
Citizens Against Crime comes in.
Citizens Against Crime is a national
safety organization which provides the
public with essential tips on preventing acts
of violence.
There are three things a criminal looks for
in choosing a victim. The victim must be
quick to get to, be an easy target, and must
present a low-risk to the criminal.
Three in four people have a chance to
become victims of a crime. According to
Edwards, "time is of the essence" when
dealing with attackers. Victims have
between 4-6 seconds to take action against
their assailant.
The program gave such information as the
two most likely places for an attack to occur
are the home and the car. Some tips on
s safety include keeping doors
locked and ',poking both Under - and inside
your car before getting in.
Citizens Against Crime serves over
15,000 people a year and has over 50 offices
across the country. The organization
provides free programs to clubs and other
organizations. There is a office located in
Harrisburg. Any questions can be answered
by calling (717) 657-1225.
20 minutes to respond to the Oct. police services weren't broken
23 assault. But Lower Swatara down.
Township police arrived at the Of Penn State's 22 satellite
scene in about three minutes. campuses, Capital campus has the
"That's what scares me most; that largest student population with over
the township cops showed up 3,600 full- and part-time students.
before the campus c0p5...1 could be Campuses with comparative
dead in 20 minutes," said Gretchen populations spent considerably
Sanchack, who placed the call. more money on security - Erie
According to Penn State's 1992- spends about $llO. Berks, with less
93 operating budget, PSH ranks than half PSH's population, spends
ninth in money spent per student $96 per student; and Beaver, with
for security-about $74 each. less than 1,000 students, spends
Security funding includes extension $l5O per student on security - the
services like student patrols and most in the Penn State system.
escort services. Exact figures for "As a department head, you're
Some rape prevention tips
Ricardo Duarte
Capital Times Reporter
Thousands of people - male and
female alike - suffer from some form of
sexual assault on campuses across the
country each year. Rape is by far the
most violent of these acts.
The psychological effects from rape
are devastating not only to the victim,
but to family and friends as well. To
prevent this heinous crime from
happening to you, here are several
safety tips:
*Walk. in a group and use the buddy
system. Don't forget to use the newly
available campus escort service.
*Walk in a well-lit area, especially at
nighttime. Avoid dark alleys, side
roads, etc. and move quickly to your
destination.
*Carry a device that will draw others
attention to you. Whistles, key-chain
flares or beepers are all easy to carry in
your purse or pocket.
faculty
The victim decided not to press
charges, said Robert Surridge, asst.
provost for community outreach. And
the incident wasn't brought before the
judicial affairs board, he added.
Neither the victim nor the alleged
rapist attend classes at PSH now,
Surridge said.
Rape is an extremely under-reported
crime, Suit said. National statistics say
that only one out of ten cases ever get
reported. And out of those ten, only one
will press charges.
Only four cases were heard before a
judicial affairs board at University Park
last year.
"But at the same time, I've received
calls from women who didn't want to
press charges," he added.
In both recent attacks on PSH
students, the perpetrator would be tried
for physical and sexual abuse and sexual
assault. Although the university
distinguishes between varying degrees of
sexual assault, it doesn't have a charge
of rape.
November 6 T
1993 PUBLIC SAFETY/ 2
*Take self defense classes. They can
provide you with some basic skills to
elude your attacker and get help.
*Carry an attack prevention weapon
such as a pocket or key chain size
canister of poisonous spray. It's
important to remember, however, if you
do decide to carry a defense weapon, it
could possibly be used against you.
"When facing an attacker a pet-son has
to decide whether or not they are going
to fight back," said Pam Brandon of the
Rape Crisis Center in Harrisburg, "In
many cases it comes down to a split
second decision and using your best
judgment."
It doesn't matter if you know the
attacker or not, the severity of the crime
doesn't change.
Date rape is also serious a problem
on campuses. Here are some tips for
preventing a situation from getting out
of hand:
Teaching safety
sikb
11l
"It would mean suspension or
expulsion if the person is found guilty.
Any kind of sexual assault usually
means a dismissal," Suit said.
The first attack, Sept. 20, occurred in
broad daylight in the parking lot across
from Police Services - between
Olmsted and Capital Union buildings.
The woman was blindfolded, dragged
between two cars and raped by a n
unidentified man.
The perpetrator of the second attack,
Oct. 23, grabbed the victim from
behind, clasped his hand over the her
mouth and warned her not to scream.
She kicked the unidentified man and fled
to safety.
Police think the two incidents were
performed by different men but are not
ruling out the possibility of the two
being related, said Charles Aleksy,
university police chief.
If found guilty, both perpetrators
would face the same punishments on
campus, Suit said.
"I think there would be enough
circumstantial evidence to charge the
perpetrator of the second assault with
the same sanction" as the alleged rapist,
Suit said.
Students receive a lesson in crime prevention at a
safety meeting held in the Dining Commons on
November 1.
A representative from Citizens Against Crime
demonstrates the importance of keeping keys in one
hand and mace in the other.
understaffing
always saying you need more
money," said Sandra Jackson,
manager of business services which
police services falls under.
But money isn't the police
services main problem, Jackson
said. The university is still looking
for replacements for two officers
who resigned in May.
Police Chief Charles Aleksy
recently offered a full-time position
to one applicant. The candidate
must first pass a series of tests
before the university makes a final
offer. If the applicant meets
university requirements, Aleksy
*Make it clear before you get into a
sexual situation what your limits are.
*Avoid secluded places and any
suggestions to get away from whatever
function you're at. Suggest meeting in
public places where help will be nearby
if you need it.
* Beware of alcohol and other drugs. Its
harder for you to control the situation if
you're under the influence of these
substances. Be aware of how much your
date drinks, too.
*Have your own transportation, go out
with a group, or double-date. Don't rely
on your date's transportation.
"Whether it be rape by a stranger or
somebody we know, we should take
proactive steps to stop it as we would
any other crime," said Marylou Martz,
registered nurse at the health center.
said he anticipates making the offer
within the month.
The second position is still
vacant and doesn't have any
qualified candidates, said Dorothy
Guy, director of human resources.
The positions were posted about
six months ago. The lengthy
selection process is common in
academia, Guy said, adding that
hiring an officer is a lengthy
process. A search committee was
formed in the summer to review
applications. Then candidates were
interviewed before an offer could be
made.
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