Spring Break
Women's Center, RHA join to combat sexual assault
Grace Harper
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News
To show that recent issues pertaining to campus safety have not gone unnoticed, groups around UConn are working towards raising community awareness about how to be safe at school. The Women's Center, the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and sororities such as Sigma Gamma Rho are all doing their part to get involved and get others at UConn to make a change.
At a recent Panhellenic Council Meeting, Marco Allocca, president of the RHA, spoke about an awareness rally that will be hosted in conjunction with the Women's Center's Violence Against Women Prevention Program (VAWPP). The rally will address the issue of recent sexual assaults and discuss the importance of campus safety. The proposed date for this rally is Oct. 15.
In addition to the possible rally, the Women's Center is hosting other events that include peer-facilitated, interactive sessions in the residence halls and many sections of the First Year Experience course. There are also campus-wide awareness events such as "Take Back the Night" and "The Clothesline Project." The Clothesline Project will be on display this week and serves as a "visual voice to survivors." Each different colored shirt expresses a different type of assault, which is intended to send a strong message about the reality of sexual violence.
The Women's Center has long been acknowledging the importance of awareness, doing a great deal of advocacy work with survivors. Director Kathleen Holgerson also expressed the need to put this issue on a "bigger level," saying the UConn community should "make sure these issues are paid attention to."
Tuesday, Sept. 30, Sigma Gamma Rho held an informational discussion with the UConn Police Department. The police met with sorority members as well as some other UConn students about what the police department's role is in regards to campus safety - particularly with respect to sexual assault.
"When things happen…to other people, the impact is so desensitized," said Sigma Gamma Rho President Kim Roberts, a 7th-semester psychology major. "[You think] that couldn't happen to us."
One thing Sigma Gamma Rho stressed is the need for a "buddy system," to eliminate women walking around campus alone. Though a relatively small organization, Roberts is hoping for it to "branch out … so everyone gets back safely."
A central idea that all groups on campus seem to support is the need for everyone to get involved and understand this dangerous issue. Roberts particularly supports having the police department speak to UConn students.
"They were wonderful," said Roberts of the UConn Police. "I suggest other groups [have them speak] and get involved."
At a recent Panhellenic Council Meeting, Marco Allocca, president of the RHA, spoke about an awareness rally that will be hosted in conjunction with the Women's Center's Violence Against Women Prevention Program (VAWPP). The rally will address the issue of recent sexual assaults and discuss the importance of campus safety. The proposed date for this rally is Oct. 15.
In addition to the possible rally, the Women's Center is hosting other events that include peer-facilitated, interactive sessions in the residence halls and many sections of the First Year Experience course. There are also campus-wide awareness events such as "Take Back the Night" and "The Clothesline Project." The Clothesline Project will be on display this week and serves as a "visual voice to survivors." Each different colored shirt expresses a different type of assault, which is intended to send a strong message about the reality of sexual violence.
The Women's Center has long been acknowledging the importance of awareness, doing a great deal of advocacy work with survivors. Director Kathleen Holgerson also expressed the need to put this issue on a "bigger level," saying the UConn community should "make sure these issues are paid attention to."
Tuesday, Sept. 30, Sigma Gamma Rho held an informational discussion with the UConn Police Department. The police met with sorority members as well as some other UConn students about what the police department's role is in regards to campus safety - particularly with respect to sexual assault.
"When things happen…to other people, the impact is so desensitized," said Sigma Gamma Rho President Kim Roberts, a 7th-semester psychology major. "[You think] that couldn't happen to us."
One thing Sigma Gamma Rho stressed is the need for a "buddy system," to eliminate women walking around campus alone. Though a relatively small organization, Roberts is hoping for it to "branch out … so everyone gets back safely."
A central idea that all groups on campus seem to support is the need for everyone to get involved and understand this dangerous issue. Roberts particularly supports having the police department speak to UConn students.
"They were wonderful," said Roberts of the UConn Police. "I suggest other groups [have them speak] and get involved."
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