In light of Monday's sexual assault and an incident of indecent exposure by an AlliedBarton security guard, the Penn Women's Center hosted an information session on sexual violence yesterday afternoon.
A panel of campus safety experts addressed two students about available resources and campus security policy changes.
Director of DPS Special Services Pat Brennan began the discussion by outlining new requirements for walking escorts, who will wear visible photo identification and carry identification cards. Additionally, "anyone under 25 will not be a walking escort," Brennan said.
Director of Strategic Initiatives for the University Life Division Stephanie Ives said sexual assault has received ongoing attention from the administration.
"Police officers go through extensive training on sexual assault, dating, and domestic violence and stalking," she said. "They carry a card with them with things to keep in mind when handling sexual assault."
She pointed to the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Resource Consultant program, described as "a volunteer group of staff and faculty who provide confidential support and resource information to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence," on the Web site. Resource consultants are available to students at Penn as well as at Drexel University and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
The best way for a peer to offer support to a victim of sexual assault is to direct them to professional help, said Jacqueline Rogers, coordinator of the University Life Division.
"Don't feel as though you have to fix it," she said. "There are plenty of experts on Penn's campus."
As for the AlliedBarton incident, PWC associate director Gloria Gay said it is inappropriate to generalize the entire agency.
"One person did something that was quite inappropriate, but the whole agency name and the people who work for Allied, are now under suspect," she said. "When one doctor goes bad, we don't write off the whole medical society."
Brennan agreed, saying, "there are 450 [AlliedBarton] guards out there doing a darn good job."
Any student who witnesses misconduct by a guard, including catcalling, should dial the Division of Public Safety emergency line immediately, Brennan said.
"This is not a time to get panic-stricken," PWC assistant director Felicity Paxton said. "But it would be a good time for people to survey their [safety] routines."
