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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1997)
RHA, Women’s Center target sexual assault By Sarah Baker Assignment Reporter Prevention, prevention, preven tion. That’s what the people behind Sexual Assault Awareness Week want to preach first and foremost. Ben Wallace, Residence Hall Association president and coordina tor of the weeklong event, said his aim was to give students the tools to help stop sexual assault before it happens. Sexual Assault Awareness Week runs today through Saturday. Among the events scheduled are a safety walk, a panel discussion, a comedian who will discuss inter personal communication and a self defense course. Wallace said the activities, sponsored by RHA and the Women’s Center, were designed from a new angle. “The activities are more posi tive,” he said. Amy Rager, Association of Students of the University of Nebraska first vice president said the program, previously called Rape Awareness Week, is intended to help make students more aware. “Students need to know about the problems both on campus and in the community concerning rape and sexual assault,” she said. The safety walk, which was held Sunday night, was designed to show students how to use the emergency fcfc Students need to know about the problems ...” Amy Rager ASUN first vice president blue lights and how to be safe. The panel discussion - which takes place tonight - will give stu dents the chance to ask any ques tions they might have about preven tion or awareness, Wallace said. “The panel encompasses people from all parts of the university,” he said. Rager said awareness on the subject continues to grow every year. “More and more students are beginning to see how important it is,” she said. Wallace said the focus was on protection, not problems. “We aren’t focusing on the trou ble spots,” Wallace said. “We want to make sure students know how to be safe while on campus.” Rager agreed. “We don’t want students to be afraid, but at the same time we don’t want them to be relaxed about walk ing on campus at night,” she said. “We just want them to be aware of what is out there.” Check us out www.unl.edu/DailyNeb/ SHARPP points to rape scare DURHAM, N.H. (U-WIRE) — For freshmen students, the first year of college can be full of refreshing, positive experiences with new chal lenges. But it can also be dangerous, especially if students are not aware of certain situations. One of the dangers is rape or sex ual assault. The majority of sexual assaults and physical abuse of stu dents occur in the first semester of their first year of college. And most rapes occur not by strangers, but by acquaintances. One in four women will be raped by men during their college tenure, according to Elizabethe Plante, direc tor of SHARPP, UNH’s Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program. To try to prevent that, Plante advises students, especially those unfamiliar with the college atmos phere, to be aware of certain situa tions and to watch out for the safety of fellow students. One of Plante’s greatest concerns is the drug Rohypnol, known as the “rape drug.” Rohypnol is the brand name of a sleeping pill marketed by Roche Pharmaceuticals. It is also commonly called Roofies, Ruffies, Roche and various other names. Rohypnol has no legal use in this country. The most common and con cerning abuse of the drug is its use by rapists, who slip the drug into a vic tim’s drink (usually alcohol) before a rape or sexual assault. The drug takes away the victim’s normal inhibitions and blocks the memory of a rape or sexual assault. Plante said victims experience “blackouts,” which means a victim can still walk around and talk to peo ple, but won’t remember anything the next day. She said victims especially have a difficult time dealing with not knowing what happened. “Even a small amount can cause amnesia,” said Plante. When Rohypnol is mixed with it— Its out there. I urge women and men to be aware” Elizabethe Plante director of SHARPP other drugs or alcohol, the symptoms may be intensified and can even be fatal. Plante said Rohypnol is a sedative similar to Valium, but 20 times more potent. It is odorless, tasteless and color less. Plante advises that if students are in a drinking situation they should guard their drink so no one can slip anything into it. Last year there were several sus picious rape cases concerning the drug, according to Plante. “It’s out there,” Plante said. “I urge women and men to be aware.” She also encourages people to watch out for each other. If a person suspects that Rohypnol may have been slipped into someone’s drink, symptoms to look out for include impaired judgment and motor skills, amnesia, drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. Putting someone to bed for the night is not enough, Plante said. A victim would need immediate atten tion at an emergency room where tox icology tests could be run to test for the drug. Plante strongly urges bystanders to take action. Ninety percent of the time rape is preventable, she said, and part of the responsibility is on bystanders. “Everyone knows, or will know, someone who has been sexually assaulted,” she said. If a woman is intoxicated at a party, and a man leads her off some where, Plante said bystanders should n’t just assume that he is tucking her into bed, or getting a girlfriend to take her home. Bystanders should ques tion whether or not the situation is safe for the woman, and they should take action to find out, Plante said. Another message Plante wants to get across is that more rapes take place by acquaintances than by strangers. “Women are vigilant about pro tecting themselves from rape when it comes to strangers,” Plante said. “But they need to understand that they are at the greatest risk of danger with a man that they know.” She advises that people should trust their instincts. If something doesn’t feel safe, then it probably isn’t. SHARPP SAFETY TIPS TO FIGHT SEXUAL ASSAULT ■In a drinking situation, guard your drink so no one can slip any thing into it. ■ Watch out for other people - use the buddy system. ■ Be aware that it’s OK to express limits. ■ Realize that everyone has a right to refuse and a right to change his or her mind. ■ Trust your instincts. If some thing doesn’t feel safe, then it proba bly isn’t. Sexual Assault Awareness Week Any Questions or Need More WTTAT1 CAN YOU DO? Info? Call Ben at 436-9611 find out!!! MONDAY 8:00 PM Open Forum on Sexual Assault Awareness with Panel (Centennial Room of Nebraska Union) TUESDAY 3:30 PM-5:30 PM Men Take a Stand for Sexual Assault Awareness Rally (Greenspace) 6:00-9:30 PM SHARP self-defense course (Part 1 of 2) (Campus Rec Center, to register call 472-7440) WEDNESDAY 7:00 PM Juli Burney “Let’sTalk” A workshop on interpersonal communication (Wick Center) THURSDAY 6:00-9:30 PM SHARP self-defense course (Part 2) (Campus Recreation Center) SATURDAY 9:00 AM-4:00 PM 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament (for more information call Bill Steinbauer at 477-3997) Sponsored by: UPC, Student Affairs, University Health Center, University Housing, State Farm Insurance, Men Speak Out Against Violence, Womens Center, RHA, ASUN, UNL-PD, Victim Services, IFC, Panhellenic Council, Greek Affairs, APU, University Lutheran Chapel, Judicial Affairs, Student Involvement, Culture Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Nebraska Unions, and Campus Escort. SHOOTING FOR RESPECT I 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL REGISTRATION FORM I DOUBLE ELIMINATION I WHERE: THE LUTHERAN CHAPEL LOT at 16th & ‘O' Street 1 WHEN: Sat, Sept. 27th (Play begins at 10 A.M. I —ALL TEAMS check in 9-9:30 A.V. at 16th & O’ Street) | FOR: ALL STUDENTS AND FACULTY ( (Those under 19 need parent signature.) COST: $40/team: All proceeds go to the Lincoln Rape and Spouse Crisis Center!!! ■ i TEAM NAME:_ I CIRCLE ONE: MENS WOMENS * PLAYER NAME A PHONE# HEIGHT PARENTS SIGNATURE (if under | 1._ _ _ | 2._ _ _ | 3._ _ _ A.----, Participants, PLEASE RETURN TEAM ENTRY FORMS I BY THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER25thto House Philanthropy ( Chair if member of fraternity or sorority OR University Lutheran Chapel at 1510 *Q’ Street if faculty or non-Greek I student. Checks made payable to Shooting For Respect. | -----