Reach-A-Peer offers new service

RAP now takes calls seven days a week In celebration of its fifth anniversary, the Reach-A-Peer Helpline will be offering Penn Peer, an anonymous on-line support service for students, according to College senior Shiva Chandra, RAP Line vice president of training. This is also the first semester that RAP Line will be open for calls seven days a week, from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. Up until this point the helpline was open five days a week. "The founders envisioned expanding to seven days a week," Chandra said. "A computer component and a walk-in service were also future goals." While the walk-in service is not yet available, RAP Line members are now working to develop software for Penn Peer, which is scheduled to pilot in October, Chandra said. Working in conjunction with Data Communications and Computing Services, the organization is creating a program to allow students to talk to RAP Line staff on line while remaining anonymous. The names of callers would not appear on the screen, but staffers would still be able to reply to the callers, according to College senior Kim Brummer. Chandra said that additional training will be required for RAP Line members to work on Penn Peer. RAP Line, which celebrated its anniversary at last week's activity fair, also has a reception planned for its alumni over Homecoming weekend. At this event, a tree will be planted in memory of 1994 College graduate Mary McGuire, who was tragically killed last fall by a drunk driver. McGuire was president of RAP Line during the 1993-94 school year. RAP Line has grown tremendously since its birth, Chandra said. "Initially there were eight to 12 members," he added. "We now have about 50 members." In 1993, RAP Line was recognized by the University administration for its positive role in the student community. RAP Line was founded in 1990 by 1992 College graduates Melissa Karz, Margery Jacobs and 1993 graduate Rachel Miller. These women felt the University needed a program for students to discuss their problems with peers. They based RAP Line on a program in Los Angeles for which Karz and Jacobs had worked. This year, RAP Line will be advised by Kate Ward-Gaus, a representative of the Office of Health Education.