By snoadmin
“Thirty-five percent of male college students would sexually assault a woman if they could get away with it,” said Mark Rich, assistant professor of communications studies and director of InterAct. Rich also said 98 percent of sexual perpetrators are male and that our society has a social problem with men committing sexual crimes.
Ways to increase awareness and sexual assault prevention, along with a discussion of a need for social change were discussed during the Town Hall Meeting in the Beach Auditorium Wednesday.
The office of the dean of students, along with other departments, sponsored the meeting in response to the recent attacks on campus.
University Police Cpl. Ami Rzasa provided details of the four attacks, as well as a description of each perpetrator. The four sexual assaults that occurred on campus in October and November warranted doubling campus patrols, contracting a private security firm for the dorm area, increasing security escorts, extending escort hours and posting crime bulletins across campus.
Since the attacks, the number of security escorts tripled from 100 to approximately 350 per night, Rzasa said. Each case is currently being investigated by University Police.
The panel consisted of psychologists, rape specialists, professors and representatives from the community all answered questions from students and audience members.
Marcela Chavez, director of the Women’s Resource Center, encouraged women to come forward and report any assaults.
“Once one person reports it, it empowers others to report [assaults] by validating it,” Chavez said.
One expert panelist explained how self-defense and a well-lit environment effectively combat stranger assaults. It was also said that self-defense is the best course of action in situations of sexual assault.
Additionally, the experts on the panel said 80 to 90 percent of sexual assaults are done by someone the victim knows or is acquainted with. These “acquaintance assaults” most commonly occur when drugs or alcohol are involved, so staying alert of the surroundings is an effective defense.
During the meeting, panelists stated how research has shown that women who fight against their assailant are more likely to not be harmed and will be able to escape.
If the assailant has a weapon, the most effective escape strategy is still fighting back. The weapon is used to create a power dynamic, Rich said.
The panelists also said college women are three times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other group.
The increased security measures are deemed to continue as long as necessary and will not increase student fees, Rzasa said.
Increased lighting in areas that do not have sufficient light, maintaining tree and bush trimming to maximize light exposure, maintaining emergency telephone locations and increasing patrols were some changes proposed during the meeting.
Self-defense courses and rape aggression defense workshops are offered on campus throughout the semester. Visit csulb.edu/police or contact University Police at (562) 985-8538 for more information.
