Friday, Jan. 16, 1998
Society must not fear using word 'rape'
I am the victim of the rape that occurred last semester on Nov. 23. As horrible an incident as it was, I have no intention of sugar coating it or making it into lesser of an act than occurred. I'll say it again -- I was raped.
My point isn't that this word should be used loosely because that
would be a crime in itself.
But the one thing that everyone, from the police to the average
student, knows happened is that myself and two others were raped
in a very similar manner by possibly the same man -- if he can
be called that.
I can only speak for myself when I say that I'm fed up with what
happened being called a "sexual assault" or the person
who did it being referred to as a "stalker."
Not only is that not accurate and going to send the wrong message
to every female trying to protect herself, but it's insulting
that people who haven't been victims can't even get the word rape
past their lips.
If I can say it, you can say it. "I was raped at gunpoint,
and I survived." -- I hope to God you or someone you know
don't have to say seven out of these eight words, but try just
one of them.
another survivor
HUB events deserve students' attention
In HUB Late Night weekend events, many of you have found a reliable fun-filled on-campus source of leisure and entertainment.
That was true last year -- the first year of the Friday and Saturday
night shows -- and doubly true this year, according to your written
assessments and your comments to John Harlow, our assistant director
for HUB Late Night activities.
Shar Marbury, acting director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center,
concurs.
"Many Robeson participants praise the University for organizing
this nonalcohol fun alternative. I encourage them to attend."
Fall Semester 1997, some 16,000 of you laughed with the Comedy
Caravan, listened to the songs of Sonia Rutstein, played the Interactive
Dating Game and watched the film My Best Friend's Wedding.
Some of you spanned the generation gap by taking ballroom dance
lessons. Many more in Spring Semester 1998 will sample a similar
varied fare. Not only do outside artists appear, performers from
Penn State's School of Music showcase their skills as do students
at large in the spring campus talent show.
That kind of participation is only fitting. HUB Late-Night Weekend
is almost entirely student supported. Your peers on the University
Park Allocation Committee chose to support the program by allocating
to it a portion of your Student Activity Fee.
So check out what your money buys; check out the HUB Late Night
schedule. Better yet, get on it. You may be the next Tina Turner
or David Copperfield.
William Asbury
vice president for Student Affairs
