<p>Thanks for your comments. I realize that police dont run support groups, but they are first contact for the victim and how they react to the victim is critical. If the campus police respond to an inquiry (remember the poster is trying to judge campus safety) with "thats not our job" it is different than if they have the contacts for the support groups, the counseling center and integrated response team readily available.
The police have to follow state guidelines in treating assults, but it is how they do beyond those guidelines that matters to the victims. In our family's case, the C'ville Police were exceptional- they assigned the one Jewish police officer on the whole force as a liaison with our family since it was high holy days and we needed solace. </p>
<p>Campus atmosphere and attention to victim needs, not only can help a victim recover faster, but will relate significantly to whether a crime is ever reported.</p>
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I realize that police dont run support groups, but they are first contact for the victim and how they react to the victim is critical.
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The police are not usually the first contact for the victim after acquaintance rape. Many women are unsure of what to do, which is why the hotlines and support groups need to be well publicized.</p>
<p>Sorry to continue this, but I think it's important for people to realize that a survivor's don't contact the police initially after rape. Melli's post is reassuring to me...it seems as though our students know about the resources available to them here.</p>
<p>moh - I know you said you read the online college papers - but I wanted to point out a demonstration on PSU's campus last fall (see link below). Also, my son reported that they spent a significant amount of time on date rape in his orientation.
Not sure about support services - that's something you can ask about on your visit.
I worked as a volunteer crisis counselor on my college campus (years ago) and I will confirm that it is very difficult to get women to report date rape assaults to the police. The statistics are therefore VERY hard to evaluate...<br>
<a href="http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/11/11-10-06tdc/11-10-06dnews-10.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/11/11-10-06tdc/11-10-06dnews-10.asp</a></p>
<p>Toneranger, I think I recall reading that article--thanks. It's good to know that Penn State is taking some proactive measures to help the women on campus stay safe. I've been relatively comfortable with the level of campus security at PSU, but I will make a few inquiries when I'm up there again.</p>
<p>my aplogies to toneranger, and my thanks to melli! i mean no harm, but as melli said, the comparisons were flying in my face. i can only echo what melli and Dean J have said...from our first UVA orientation, all the way through, the "safety talks" and speeches of town police, etc. , it suggested tremendous focus on safety. my daughter's experience seems like melli's...walking everywhere, use of good old commom sense, and supportive friends. from my visits to "Rugby Row" the heavy greek life is apparent, but as i said earlier, it is up to the good judgment and responsibilty of the student as to any social outcome. when our kids go off, we have to believe/hope we've done a good job. i still contend that Charlottesville is a superior southern town, full of the excitement that UVA adds as well as its own warmth, culture and varied offerings. it seems sometimes enthusiastic parents get put down, but i'm trying to share our own good experiences.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree with the posters who feel that rape figures in the 20's might actually be low, esp. if you're talking about "date" or acquaintance rape.</p>
<p>I think this points to the need for young women (and men!) to be very careful when it comes to drinking and finding yourself alone with someone you barely know. Am glad to hear that schools are trying to educate kids in this respect.</p>
<p>At my alma mater back in the late 70's-early 80's, alcohol flowed like crazy, and fraternity parties were pretty much the only thing going on weekends. Girls learned pretty quickly which houses to avoid, but sadly, cases of date rape were not all that uncommon, and even worse, there were also several gang rapes. I hope/assume things have gotten much better over the years, but kids MUST be careful, even on the nicest of campusesl!!!</p>
<p>If rapes figures in the 20's is actually low - then , how many date/ acquaintance rapes really occurred???? That would make the number even more appalling, IMO....</p>
<p>I think it happened (and still happens) WAY more than people think. None of the women I knew ever reported it to the police. They would tell friends or RA's or friends in confidence, but it wasn't information they wanted getting around. One of the gang rapes was reported and received quite a bit of publicity, but looking back, but it was still dealt with largely at a local level, and kept quieter than it would be today. I think it's a lot harder for schools to hide things now, which is a good thing. Is it the Jean Clery Act (?) that requires schools to divulge their campus crime statistics? This was touched on in an earlier thread somewhere. Unreported crimes are still unreported, though.
I think the schools that are acting and educating are doing their students a very necessary service.</p>
<p>So sad. Does anyone have current numbers on sexual assaults at UVA? This thread is several years old, but it did point that there is a problem at Virginia. Sad how prophetic this was.</p>