Sorority cancels in support of sister

This weekend's homecoming pairs will be minus two greek organizations. Fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority have pulled themselves from being paired after Tuesday's alleged sexual assault on an Alpha Omicron Pi member by a Sigma Alpha Epsilon member. \nThough IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger said there is nothing new to report with the case, executives for AOPi unanimously decided they would abstain from participating in any social event with SAE, according to Panhellenic Association President Marcie Goldstein, a senior.\n"I think being supportive of the woman involved is the best (AOPi) can do … Our concern right now is clearly for the sexual assault victim, the other members of AOPi," Goldstein said. "At this point, we're in support of all members of the greek female community … we stand behind them and want to prevent anything like this from happening again."\nAngela Lindauer, advisor for AOPi, said AOPi made the decision to end the pairing out of support for their sister.\n"Obviously this is not an issue of AOPi and SAE," Lindauer said. "This can happen to anyone. The chapter is in support of their sister -- they want to move forward. The biggest thing to note is that no one wanted this to happen.\n"It doesn't matter if this victim is a member of a sorority -- rape can happen to anyone. AOPi is currently collecting donations for Middleway House. This is just one thing AOPi is doing to create something positive in response."\nAmy Maidi, crisis intervention services coordinator for Middleway House, said most people's perception of rapists are not accurate.\n"People have this perception that most rapists are strangers," Maidi said, "but they're usually not. More than 90 percent of college women raped do not tell police. Sixty to 80 percent of women raped know their attackers. That means acquaintance rape accounts for the majority of rape."\nMiddleway House offers various services for victims of rape, including a 24-hour shelter service and around-the-clock advocates to speak with victims about their options both legally and medically, Maidi said.\n"In the month of October alone, we've responded to 11 calls, two of which involved runs to the Emergency Room," she said.\nIn prior months, Maidi said there were 28 calls in September and 33 in August.\n"I would like to encourage all women who are raped to at least have the evidentuary exam done, so that, in the future, if they want to prosecute they have the evidence to do so," she said.\nThe exam, Maidi said, usually takes between four to six hours and involves having samples of the victims pubic hair removed and tested. The evidence is then sealed and given to police.\nMaidi also spoke openly about ways of prevention, and acknowledging that rape does occur in our community.\n"Rape happens here and people need to be aware of it," Maidi said. "We don't need to blame the victim … that only gives the perpetrator power. We need to have zero tolerance for their (perpetrators) behavior. Nobody tricks rapists into doing what they're doing. They just want to make sure no one punishes them for what they are doing."\nAt press time, members of SAE failed to return attempts made by the IDS to contact them.