Concerned students, faculty and community members gathered last night in the HUB Auditorium to voice their opinions and to suggest possible solutions in response to recent sexual assaults.
At the Undergraduate Student Government (USG)-sponsored sexual assault forum, audience members watched silently as Elissa Mills, a sexual assault survivor, made an emotional appeal about the need for increased lighting and police presence on campus and in the community.
Though not the focus of the presentation, Mills stressed that walking in a dark alley does not place a victim of sexual assault at fault and that more patrolling officers, rather than patrol cars, are needed.
"I don't think that any of the victims have made bad choices. I think that their assailants have made incredibly poor choices," she said, drawing applause.
USG President Ian Rosenberger and Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Steve DiOrio also shared their concerns regarding the safety of female students.
"One out of four girls will be the victim of an attempted sexual assault and one out of eight girls will actually be assaulted. One thousand at University Park alone will be assaulted this year," Rosenberger said. "This is unacceptable."
Some students were displeased by the statistics and the university's perceived lack of action.
"The fact that they know this in advance means they should do everything possible [to keep students safe]," Sophia Drago (sophomore-liberal arts) said in response to Rosenberger's statistics.
DiOrio discussed implementing an IFC-sponsored escort service as well as donating funds to the ailing 865-WALK program.
"No girl should ever have to experience sexual assault. The IFC feels it's important to educate its members on this issue," DiOrio said.
USG Women's Affairs Co-Directors Tatiana Diaz and Emily Armbruster discussed the need for more sexual assault education in freshman seminars for incoming students and encouraged community empowerment of those present at the discussion to sign letters addressed to Penn State President Graham Spanier emphasizing the need for immediate action.
"We will take the letters to our next meeting with the university, so they know they are responsible and accountable -- that there are people waiting for something to be done about this," Armbruster said.
Executive Vice President of Student Affairs Art Carter emphasized that while the fault does not rest with victims, students need to take responsibility for their actions and that a culture immersed in wrestling and violent television shows perpetuates a violent society.
"Individual responsibility cannot be negated. Larger safety issues reside with each and every one of you. Empower yourselves -- report issues and concerns to USG. Everyone in the administration really does give a darn about what happens in the community," he said.
Mills would like to see immediate reaction from the university.
"Words are a dime a dozen. Unless you show you're really doing stuff to make a concerted effort to make us safe, you're full of crap," Mills said.
