Forum promotes rape awareness

The Community Service Living- Learning Program sponsored a workshop to promote awareness of acquaintance rape and dating violence last week in the Castle. Speakers from Women Organized Against Rape, Students Against Acquaintance Rape and the Penn Women's Center said the workshops were established to heighten sensitivity. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, over 25 percent of female college students have been victims of rape or attempted rape, Women's Center Director Elena DiLapi said. "[This workshop] is not just for women, but to increase awareness for everyone," said College sophomore and event organizer Jennifer Turner. Karen Magargle, WOAR's education specialist, said "rape is not a sexual act, it's an act of violence." As part of her presentation combating ignorance on sexual violence, Magargle showed a video tape about campus rape. Victims profiled on the tape spoke of their trauma after being raped. Magargle told audience members that victims of sexual violence should get help immediately. She mentioned organizations on campus trained to assist victims. Rape is most often perpetrated by someone the victim knows, all the speakers said. As many as 80 percent of all rapes are committed by acquaintances, Magargle said. Many go underreported because victims often blame themselves for provoking the rape. College sophomore Jane Grodnick, a workshop facilitator for STAAR, said this should not be the case. "Women have a right to dress and behave as they want, but they must realize the reactions [they get]," Grodnick said. Grodnick, along with fellow STAAR member College junior Jeff Reiser, led an open discussion among the group. One subject that evoked particularly passionate responses was the question of what to do when a partner consenting to sexual advances is intoxicated. "If I said yes, then I would mean yes," an adamant female participant said. Another participant challenged her view, saying people have to be aware of what their partner really wants, and that if this is unclear, they should wait until their partner is completely sober before making advances. In order to help stop acquaintance rape, Grodnick suggested that women be assertive and keep in mind that non-verbal actions can be misinterpreted, especially when alcohol and drugs are involved. "It was an excellent program set up in a manner that made people feel comfortable to tell their true feelings," said College sophomore Tamara York. "Penn has a long tradition of addressing such issues, starting 21 years ago with a sit-in that resulted in the Women's Center and Victim Support Office," said DiLapi.