The Observer, September 14, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 3
Sexual Conduct Task Force site addresses issues of assault
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The Task Force on Sexual Conduct at Case, along with the Sexual Misconduct Student Committee, developed a new Web site this fall to provide the campus community with a definitive resource to raise awareness of sexual assault.
The site, accessible at http://www.case.edu/provost/sexualconduct, is intended to be a source of information for recognizing and preventing sexual assault, as well as a means of support for those on campus who have been victims of such misconduct.
"We aim to help people form healthy relationships and prevent sexual assault, as well as providing information and resources for survivors of assault and friends of those who have been affected," said Katie Hanna, who is the chair of the campus-wide Sexual Conduct Committee and the Women's Health Advocate at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.
The site provides advice and contact information to help victims obtain assistance in instances of sexual assault, guidelines that help to prevent sexual harassment, and links to official university policies that cover these issues.
As the site points out, less than one of every 20 completed or attempted rapes are reported. Statistics such as that one, Hanna believes, demonstrate the increased importance of a readily available resource for anyone forced into a situation involving sexual misconduct.
The website is one example of a continuing effort by the Task Force in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs. Most undergraduate students would be familiar with another example: the "bathroom poster prevention campaign."
Eighteen years ago, Sue Nickel-Schindewolf, now associate vice president for Student Affairs, worked with the Office of Housing, Residence, and Greek Life to place an informational poster about sexual assault in every residence hall bathroom. This year, the program has been further refined.
"Now," Nickel-Schindewolf said, "with the assistance of the Sexual Conduct Committee, we have developed three posters we hope will reach a broader audience: first-year, second-year, and upperclass students, as well as graduate and professional students. We're still in the process of getting the posters into all the academic building bathrooms."
Posters are available for any member of the campus community by visiting the Office of Student Affairs in Adelbert Hall 110.
For those women who have experienced rape or sexual assault, University Counseling Services is offering an upcoming support group to assist in the coping process in a confidential setting. Those who are interested can e-mail joy.pengilly@case.edu or visit http://studentaffairs.case.edu/counseling/counseling/groups/assault.
Those interested in becoming involved in the prevention of sexual assault throughout the university can contact Emily Newman of the Sexual Misconduct Student Committee at emily.newman@case.edu, or Katie Hanna at katie.hanna@case.edu.
