Over the past few weeks, more than 1,500 students have raised their voices and signed a petition requesting that the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania become a rape-designated center.
This is an overwhelming and positive show of support from our student body. The initial proposal, though — to give HUP the legal and medical resources to treat rape and sexual assault victims — has been modified, and we think that the new plan to create a specialized rape-treatment center is an even better one.
Currently, those who have been raped are sent first to HUP and then downtown to one of two designated-rape centers in Philadelphia. If HUP became a rape-designated center, they could remain there. However, because HUP is a full-time trauma center, the wait for rape victims can be extremely long. Creating a specialized rape-treatment center would give Penn and the West Philadelphia community the benefits of a designated-rape center while also providing a more comforting and calming atmosphere for those who have undergone such a traumatic experience.
There are still many hurdles to overcome, including procuring the necessary funding to staff the center with specialized nurses, finding space for the center and gaining approval from local law-enforcement officials. We’re confident, however, that this center can be created, and we’re impressed with the initiative that Penn students have taken in leading this charge.
