Last year a freshman was raped during the first week of school.
This year an anti-rape rally was held on the quad on the second day of classes.
Lindy Crescitelli, co-president of S.C.A.R.ED. (Students Concerned About Rape EDucation), hopes it makes a difference. "Statistics show that most campus rapes occur from the first day of classes to Thanksgiving, " Crescitelli said. "We want to let the entire nation know we effectively promote rape awareness." "The act itself transcends ethnicity, skin color, and sexual orientation," he said.
Crescitelli said he was also encouraged by the reaction he received. "A lot of people said they felt a part of the organization and that's what we wanted, " he said. Educating freshman was a primary aim of the rally because they were not on campus last year to remember the situation then: six reported being raped int he first five weeks of classes.
"We want them to get the facts and get education." But keeping the issue alive for upperclassmen is also important for the group, Crescitelli said, so they don't forget. "I don't fear students forgetting because we're around," he said.
During the summer, members of S.C.A.R.ED.'s executive board met with many administration members to form a coalition to promote rape awareness. Several administration members also spoke at Thursday's rally.
Crescitelli said the coalition of administrators and students met for more than two hours and will be meeting again. The coalition will provide a way for students to give input into the administration's rape policy, he said.
S.C.A.R.ED. - which one four awards from the Student Advisory Board last year including Best New Group and Best Campus Advocacy Group - will remain active, Crescitelli said. "We're around, we're more active than ever and we're going to do more programming than ever," he said.
This year an anti-rape rally was held on the quad on the second day of classes.
Lindy Crescitelli, co-president of S.C.A.R.ED. (Students Concerned About Rape EDucation), hopes it makes a difference. "Statistics show that most campus rapes occur from the first day of classes to Thanksgiving, " Crescitelli said. "We want to let the entire nation know we effectively promote rape awareness." "The act itself transcends ethnicity, skin color, and sexual orientation," he said.
Crescitelli said he was also encouraged by the reaction he received. "A lot of people said they felt a part of the organization and that's what we wanted, " he said. Educating freshman was a primary aim of the rally because they were not on campus last year to remember the situation then: six reported being raped int he first five weeks of classes.
"We want them to get the facts and get education." But keeping the issue alive for upperclassmen is also important for the group, Crescitelli said, so they don't forget. "I don't fear students forgetting because we're around," he said.
During the summer, members of S.C.A.R.ED.'s executive board met with many administration members to form a coalition to promote rape awareness. Several administration members also spoke at Thursday's rally.
Crescitelli said the coalition of administrators and students met for more than two hours and will be meeting again. The coalition will provide a way for students to give input into the administration's rape policy, he said.
S.C.A.R.ED. - which one four awards from the Student Advisory Board last year including Best New Group and Best Campus Advocacy Group - will remain active, Crescitelli said. "We're around, we're more active than ever and we're going to do more programming than ever," he said.
