Colleges hope to raise rape awareness
Thousands of college students across the nation are getting carded today.
They aren’t, however, trying to get into their favorite bar, they are participating in ‘Get Carded 2003,’ a nationwide sexual assault awareness program.
In an attempt to spread awareness of rape and sexual assault, more than 700 college campuses, including those in Syracuse, are participating in a day-long event presented by the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.
The program will hand out wallet-size cards with information about sexual assault and the National Sexual Assault Hotline number to 500,000 college students across the country. The event is designed to help students learn how to prevent and protect themselves from sexual assault.
According to the RAINN website, representatives from Le Moyne and Onondaga community colleges in Syracuse will be handing out the information cards to students today as an effort by RAINN’s back-to-school national outreach program.
”Get Carded’ provides information [about] the factors associated with sexual assault,’ said Dessa Bergen-Cico, Syracuse University associate dean of students. ‘It helps folks realize that [sexual assault] could happen to them, and that they are not alone.’
RAINN reports that people between the ages of 16 and 24 are three times more likely to be victims of sexual assault, and that 80 percent of victims are under the age of 30. In addition, one out of six women and one out of eight men are victims of some kind of sexual assault.
The wallet cards provide information about decreasing the risk of possible sexual assault and show college students that they can receive free, confidential information through the RAINN program. Prevention tips include never leaving a drink unattended and communicating limits firmly and directly. If sexually assaulted, the card advises preserving any evidence of the assault and to seek counseling.
Jamie Zuieback, RAINN spokeswoman, believes ‘Get Carded 2003’ will be a success.
Zuieback said that RAINN initially thought that only a few colleges would be interested in participating in the event, but more than 700 campuses signed up to distribute more than a million pieces of information. The event is affiliated with 1,100 organizations and corporate partners.
‘[‘Get Carded’] can certainly raise awareness,’ Bergen-Cico said. She explained that SU is not directly involved with the event because ‘every day [at Syracuse] is awareness day, but it is very rare that campuses have the resources we have for a real rape center.’
Students and faculty at SU believe the rape awareness event is a good idea.
Shelene Johnson, a freshman social work major, thinks the cards are a good way to help all students, especially those affected by sexual assault.
‘If students are in trouble [because of sexual assault], the cards show them that they have places where they can go,’ Johnson said.
