International students discuss safety issues

In Japan, bowing one's head is considered a sign of respect. In West Philadelphia, it is a sign of vulnerability. These and other safety issues were discussed Wednesday night at the 9th Annual Meera Memorial lecture, held in the Red Room of Graduate Tower A. At the lecture, 15 University international women learned how to overcome cultural barriers in order to protect themselves. The Meera lecture series was started as a memorial for Meera Ananthakrishnan, an Indian graduate student brutally stabbed in her apartment in Graduate Tower A over Thanksgiving break in 1985. The physics graduate student's death served as a wake-up call for the University. "The women's community made a commitment not to forget about her," said Elena DiLapi, the director of Penn Women's Center. "We're trying to remember her and take lessons from her death -- in the safety needs of international students." In order to address safety concerns pertaining to international students, Maureen Rush, director of Victim Support and Special Services, spoke about cultural norms that can be barriers to safety. "In countries where the police are connected with the military, students will do anything rather than calling the police," Rush said. "Promise me tonight, if you ever feel unsafe, you're going to trust your instincts." Other obstacles to safety for international students were language barriers, the desire to make friends and the discomfort with making eye contact, she said. These conditions make international students, especially Asian women, more vulnerable to crime, including scams or "confidence games." DiLapi said Ananthakrishnan was especially vulnerable because she was an isolated student in a male-dominated department and a foreign country. "If she weren't so isolated, maybe she wouldn't have been by herself over Thanksgiving," DiLapi said. "Maybe someone would have said, 'Come home with me.'" DiLapi said such circumstances are easy for the University community to overlook. "We don't think about it," DiLapi explained. "We go home and deal with our families." To combat the problems, presenters recommended a variety of campus resources, such as a "special check" by University Police for students on campus over Thanksgiving. They also recommend the under-utilized Penn Walking Escort Service. According to Josh Gesell, manager of Walking Escort, many international students feel guilty asking for a ride or walk on campus. "This is your service for you to use and feel safe," Gesell said. "Don't feel embarrassed, because you might be the next victim." To feel more confident on the street, Rush recommended the Rape Aggressive Defense course given by the Division of Public Safety. Students were receptive to the speakers' recommendations. "I'm really curious to find out about safety issues, especially for women, not because I'm scared, but because I prefer to be knowledgeable," said Fine Arts graduate student Beverly Brereton. Education graduate student Ya Ting said the lecture taught her a great deal about the safety issues concerning international students. "If I walk on the street in my country, I won't make eye contact," Ting said. "Here, it's a rule you have to walk confidently."

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