Prevention methods key to stopping sexual assault

Sophomore Rachel Chern was alone near Crosstown Plaza at night. She said she thought campus seemed generally safe, but was shocked when she learned of a female reporting a rape that occurred near Ballantine Hall in March. Chern said if walking alone at night, she talks on her phone because she doesn't think she'd be as much of a target. Sometimes she carries pepper spray in her pocket, but she never has felt the need to get it out.\nSeven women have reported rape at IU since January 2005. Sergeant Leslie Slone said in 2004, women reported two rapes. Students like Chern are alarmed at the number of instances of sexual assault on campus. \nColleen Yeakle of Middle Way house in Bloomington said it's important for victims to feel free to talk about sexual assault because it increases awareness and prevention.\n"When you increase awareness, reports go up because people think, 'Maybe I can talk about this and get support.'" Natasha Pettifor is a student of New College in Florida and has an internship at IU for the summer. She walked from Ashton quad to the library to use the ATM at 9:30 p.m. and she said the thought of possibility being sexually assaulted crossed her mind. \n"I feel rightfully paranoid," she said. "Even if there's nothing dangerous, it's OK to be paranoid."\nPettifor said she tends to keep herself out of dangerous situations by walking in well-lit and populated areas. She said sometimes women aren't in a state of mind to be concerned about assault, especially about parties. "Women need a support circle to make sure they're not isolated," she said. \nThe Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) Web site defines rape as "forced sexual intercourse, including both psychological coercion and physical force." Sexual assault is broader, defined as "completed or attempted attacks generally involving unwanted sexual contact between the victim and offender." RAINN reports one of six American women will be the victim of attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.\n"Our perception is rape has to involve (physical) force," Yeakle said. She explained that in sexual assault, women are not always overcome by physical force.\n"Most women will be overcome by alcohol" and other forms of coercion, Slone said. \n"Women are raised to be non-confrontational and not assertive," she said. "Historically on campus we've had only a handful of reports of alley-type blitz rapes. People think 'Out there is where there is crime' but crime happens indoors, on (the victim or perpetrator's) familiar territory."\nAccording to RAINN, 70 percent of female rape victims know their assailants, and 40 percent of sexual assaults take place in the victim's home. An additional 20 percent occur in other acquaintance's homes.\nSlone said women must always be aware of their surroundings to keep safe.\n"We are all responsible for our own safety," she said. \nSlone said women tend to attend parties in groups, but sometimes let down their guard. She said the best thing women can do to keep safe is to not become isolated or consume \nalcohol. \n"The biggest date rape drug is alcohol," she said.\nSlone said women must be aware of how they can and would respond if attacked. \n"You are protected by the State of Indiana to protect yourself from harm," she said. "I encourage every woman to take a few minutes, get inside your own head, and imagine a few scenarios, a bear hug from behind, being pushed down and have a plan."\nSlone encourages women to further prevent attacks by taking self-defense classes. IUPD offers a free pre-arranged two-hour class for organizations and other groups of women. The instructors teach pressure-point technique and she said the class will benefit women of all sizes and physical ability.\nWhile painting the bridges on Jordan before Little 500 week about sexual assault and how to get help, Yeakle said a group of men driving by shouted, "We love our alcohol, and we love raping women." \nInstead of getting angry, she wanted to talk with the men and ask why they would say such a hurtful thing, even as a joke. Yeakle is involved with programming at Middle Way's rape crisis center to encourage peer accountability among men and talking with them as allies. \n"Our goal is to create an environment with the message that 'As a community, we care' and to the perpetrators, 'There will be consequences."