2008 Woodie Awards
Not-on my Campus
How not to become a statistic
Sherri Daus
Issue date: 2/19/04 Section: Features
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Jeanne Clery, a student at Leigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was tortured, raped, and beaten to death in her dorm room early one morning in 1986. Her attacker was another student from the university and gained access to her room through a residence hall door that had been left propped open. She was 19 years old.
According to the National Institute of Justice, rape or sexual assault happens to 28 out of 1000 college women in a given year. Many of these women don't even realize they were raped because of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Freshmen women are especially susceptible to assault. Who can resist the awe and prestige of being invited to a frat party? However, many sexual assaults occur at these parties. Alcohol and/or drug abuse are responsible for 90% of campus crime, including acquaintance rapes and assaults.
To lessen the chances of becoming a victim, never leave a drink unattended. Date rape drugs such as GHB and rohypnol are easy to acquire and even easier to slip into a drink. Because it is colorless and odorless, the chemical remains undetected even after ingestion. Victims fall into a drug-induced coma-like state, which leaves them easy prey for unwanted acts. The effects of the drug are similar to drinking too much alcohol, and the victim will have no recollection of the events until days later. Even then her memory may be fuzzy and unclear.
Take the drink along when going to the bathroom or get a different one. Never let someone open a bottle or buy a drink without watching them. If at a bar, take the drink directly from the bartender. Never let the drink out of sight. This reduces the opportunity for someone to slip something into it.
Also, decline to have personal information printed in the campus directory such as address or room number. These can be abused by others to retrieve contact information.
Know where emergency phones are located on campus, program numbers into a cell phone for easy retrieval, and know all the routes to and from all campus buildings. Find safe spots in case of emergency. Better yet, don't walk alone, especially at night. Women are less likely to be attacked when with a friend.
According to the National Institute of Justice, rape or sexual assault happens to 28 out of 1000 college women in a given year. Many of these women don't even realize they were raped because of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Freshmen women are especially susceptible to assault. Who can resist the awe and prestige of being invited to a frat party? However, many sexual assaults occur at these parties. Alcohol and/or drug abuse are responsible for 90% of campus crime, including acquaintance rapes and assaults.
To lessen the chances of becoming a victim, never leave a drink unattended. Date rape drugs such as GHB and rohypnol are easy to acquire and even easier to slip into a drink. Because it is colorless and odorless, the chemical remains undetected even after ingestion. Victims fall into a drug-induced coma-like state, which leaves them easy prey for unwanted acts. The effects of the drug are similar to drinking too much alcohol, and the victim will have no recollection of the events until days later. Even then her memory may be fuzzy and unclear.
Take the drink along when going to the bathroom or get a different one. Never let someone open a bottle or buy a drink without watching them. If at a bar, take the drink directly from the bartender. Never let the drink out of sight. This reduces the opportunity for someone to slip something into it.
Also, decline to have personal information printed in the campus directory such as address or room number. These can be abused by others to retrieve contact information.
Know where emergency phones are located on campus, program numbers into a cell phone for easy retrieval, and know all the routes to and from all campus buildings. Find safe spots in case of emergency. Better yet, don't walk alone, especially at night. Women are less likely to be attacked when with a friend.