History of Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Named for 19-year old Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University freshman who was raped and murdered in her dorm room in April 1986, the Clery Act of 1990 requires all public and private universities who participate in federal financial aid programs to report information about crime that occurs on and around campus.

The Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights of 1992 requires universities to acknowledge the rights of sexual assault victims, such as counseling services, changes on-campus housing or classes, and the notification of external law enforcement.

Study Findings

Just under 3% of college-aged women are victims of sexual assault during a 9-month academic year, or 35 crimes per 1,000 female students.

Only 5% of completed or attempted rapes are reported to university officials.

In 80-90% of college campus rapes, the victim and assailant know each other. Because of this fact, only about 50% of victims actually classify their experience as rape.

Only 37% of the universities studied reported data in compliance with the Clery Act.

Students are more likely to report sexual assault if they know the university’s policies on dealing with sexual assault.

Only about half the universities studied kept the victim informed about the progress of their case.

Applied to St. Edward’s

St. Edward’s currently has about 5,300 students enrolled, with the gender breakdown about 40 percent male to 60 percent female. With 60 percent of 5,300 equaling 3,180 female students, the number of sexual assaults at St. Edward’s could actually be as many as about 100.

The St. Edward’s website provides data for the years 2006-2009. According to this data, the numbers of reported sex offenses are extremely low, with one forcible on-campus sexual offense reported in 2007 and five offenses on public property in 2008. The website also allows students access to a downloadable Crime Incident Report Form, which has a section specifically for reporting sex offenses, with sub-sections asking whether alcohol was involved in the assault and whether the victim and assailant knew each other. The form states that data will be collected and used for the university’s Annual Security Report.

The Clothesline Project is a display of t-shirts decorated by survivors of violence or sexual assault.

Assaults Underestimated Due to Under-Reporting

Sexual assaults on college campuses are rarely reported due to a number of factors. According to the U.S. Department of Justice report, between 80 and 90 percent of assaults happen between two individuals who know each other, commonly referred to as “non-stranger rape”. The majority of women who experience non-stranger rape do not report the incident because they do not classify their experience as rape, or because of fear and social pressures.

Negative Effects of Sexual Assault

Physical symptoms. According to RAINN (the rape, abuse, and incest national network) victims of sexual assault are at risk for contraction of STI’s and possibly pregnancy. According to the CDC, sexual assault can lead to long-term health problems such as chronic pain, headaches, and stomach disturbances in addition to the possible contraction of STI’s.

Emotional symptoms. Victims of sexual assault may suffer from a variety of emotional disturbances following an attack, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, battered woman syndrome, “body memories“, rape trauma syndrome, or flashbacks.

Victim blaming. An all-too-common presence in rape cases, victim blaming is defined as directly or indirectly placing blame on the victim of sexual assault for the attack, whether for wearing revealing clothing or consuming alcohol.

What You Can Do

St. Edward’s UPD encourages students to be proactive about their safety on campus, especially after dark. The university provides a phone number for students to request an escort after dark. Emergency call boxes connecting directly to the university police department are also located on campus near the library, track field, Sorin Hall, Holy Cross Hall, Premont and Doyle, between the baseball and soccer fields, and the parking lot east of the softball fields.

The university also offers Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes, taught by certified RAD instructors at the low cost of $25 for four classes. The course, beginning April 13, covers basic self-defense techniques as well as focusing on prevention and awareness. Spanning four days (April 13, 15, 20, and 22) the course takes only 12 hours to complete.

The St. Edward’s University Counseling Center, located in Lady Bird Johnson Hall, offers confidential counseling services for those who may still be struggling with the aftermath of sexual assault. Victims of sexual assault can make an appointment by calling 448-8538 and asking to speak to a counselor. SafePlace of Austin offers a 24-hour hotline (267-SAFE), legal advocacy programs, and counseling.

According to the New York Times, Marshall was found unconscious Wednesday morning at a hotel in Manhattan, where he was staying to promote his new book Match Prints. The cause of death remains unknown. Autopsy results were inconclusive and toxicology test results will not be released until sometime next week.

Marshall got his start almost by accident when he met jazz musician John Coltrane by chance on the streets of San Francisco. Although he continued to photograph jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Marshall continued on in the tradition of chance and photographed rock legends of the 1960′s and ’70s both on and off-stage. His off-stage photojournalistic work which captured artists in a natural setting has since made him one of the most well-known photographers of all time.

“I’m like a reporter, only with a camera; I react to my subject in their environment, and if it’s going well, I get so immersed in it that I become one with the camera,” said Marshall.

Marshall’s close proximity to the artists allowed him a unique perspective on their stage performance, in addition to knowing them intimately.

“To be able to know and photograph someone who gave so totally of herself onstage is a rare feeling,” said Marshall of photographing Janis Joplin.

Known for his brash personality, Marshall often got exactly what he needed to capture these rare moments: exclusive access. He was the only photographer permitted backstage at the Beatles’ last concert in 1966 and was present at Woodstock to photograph legendary performances of bands such as The Who and The Greatful Dead, as well as concertgoers.

About the Study

Data was drawn from a national, randomly selected sample of 4,446 women who were interviewed by telephone. The sample was constrained to a two or four year college or university that had at least 1,000 students attending.

Study Findings

• 3 percent of college women experience completed or attempted rape during a college year.
• About 13 percent of college women have been stalked since the beginning of the college year.
• Most rapes (60 percent) took place in the victim’s residence.
• Sexual assault was more prevalent after 6 p.m.
• Most victims knew the person assaulting them.
• Assaulters were usually a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, acquaintance, classmate, or co-worker.

College Women at Far Greater Risk

Previous research suggests that college campuses may not be as safe as once thought, especially for women. Research shows that women on college campuses are at a far greater risk for sexual assault than the general population of women, even when the general population is college-aged.

Sexual Violence Impacts on Health

According to the CDC, sexual violence can affect emotional and physical health. Long-term health problems resulting from sexual violence include chronic pain, menstrual pain, headaches, stomach problems, and sexually transmitted infections. Victims of sexual violence also frequently experience feelings of anger, stress, and anxiety after the attack, which may lead to eating disorders, depression, and possibly suicide. Victims of sexual violence are also more likely to do things that impact their health negatively, such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs.

Knowledge and Education is Key

The study also found that many women conceal their sexual assault for various reasons. They may be embarassed or blame themselves for the assault, resulting from a common phenomenon surrounding rape called victim blaming. Because most rape victims on college campuses know their attacker, they may feel unwilling to identify someone they know as a rapist due to social pressures. Since the legal definition of rape varies according to state, especially when alcohol is involved, the victim may be unclear on whether they can press charges against their attacker.

Getting Help

If you have been a victim of sexual assault and need help, contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) or find resources by state at Aardvark.

Bright Eyed Birdie Creations, run out of Kilpatrick’s home, is another endeavor in Kilpatrick’s already impressive repertoire. An artist for most of her life, she recently “sort of stumbled onto making jewelry” this past summer. Dabbling in the macabre and surreal, Kilpatrick’s pendants and other crafts are certainly nothing your typical First Thursdayian has ever seen before. Kilpatrick reveals the secrets behind her unique domino pendants and other creations below.

When did you start making jewelry and what first inspired you?
I’m actually quite new at jewelry making. I’ve been doing art for most of my life and sort of stumbled onto making jewelry. It started this summer when I went on a road trip of the west coast with my husband.

Are there any people or places in particular that inspired you to start crafting?
One of our stops was Seattle and I found it to be an extremely inspiring place. I love how they take vintage ordinary objects and made them into art. While in Seattle we stopped at a farmers market which had loads of handmade crafts. At one booth I found typewriter keys that had been made into rings, bracelets, and necklaces. I also found scrabble pieces that had been painted and made into pendants. It was such a novel idea to me to take something so simple and make it into something extraordinary.

Did you start making other crafts before or after you started making jewelry? What’s the story behind that?
Yes, I have done art for most of my life. I go through phases with my crafting. When I was younger I did beaded jewelry which included me putting beads on a string, it was fun at first but then got kind of boring.  I then started doing collages. I would collage everything. I remember collaging my entire dresser when I was in high school, a workable piece of art. I dabbled in stained glass, mosaics, and painting, I remember going through a phase where I would paint old spoons I found at thrift stores. Hmm, I might give that a try again. I also love doing book binding. I do journals, photo albums, repairs, you name it. I also love to knit and crochet. This year I have been making some pretty funky stuff. At the moment I am in the process of making wrist warmers that stretch all the way up the arm, arm warmers.  I think for my next adventure I want to try welding.

How did you come up with the name for your company, Bright Eyed Birdie Creations?
This is an excellent question. The name came to me on the same road trip from this summer. I am currently quite obsessed with birds. It wasn’t until I got a little birdie tattooed on my arm that I really thought about their symbolism. They are free spirits going where the weather is warm and wherever their heart desires. I can’t help but feel a little kinship with that. I recently moved from Colorado and there was a serious lack of trees and unfortunately birds. They would show up for about two or three months out of the year and then be gone. Here in Austin it has been amazing with the amount of birds I am surrounded with. My art room/office has a large window that looks out into the trees (which there are lots of) and there are always birds out there to greet me. The name just seems appropriate.

Where do you get your materials? Friends, family, stores, Internet, trades?
Lots of places. Originally I had wanted to do Scrabble pendants and I scoured the land of thrift stores to find used games. But I image either people love to play Scrabble and never give away Scrabble games or other people had the same idea as me. So I searched for other goodies I could decorate and found an old domino game at my parents house and it turns out the dominoes were way better than the scrabble pieces because they have a nicer weight to them and more room to put designs on.
I typically will get my hardware either off eBay or at Hobby Lobby, that is, the chains, clasps, and bails. I also have found some gems at garage sales, antique malls, thrift stores and in nature. I have been known to do some bartering too. I obtained huge amounts of antique buttons from a trade which I made into antique button rings. The best trade by far was a book repair I did in trade for my website.

What’s the step by step process in making your jewelry? Does making take a long time? What takes the longest?
Making the pendants takes a long time. To begin I do lots of research finding images, designs, cool paper, or creating mini-collages. After I gather all of my designs I seal them with Mod Podge, a water-based sealant. I do at least 2-3 coats on the front and back of each image. Then I take the domino or game piece and will drill a hole in the top. After the images have dried I will cut them to fit the size of the domino or game piece and glue them on. After that has dried I start the resin process. The resin I use comes in two bottles and I have to evenly measure equal parts of both, then mix, pour in a different cup and mix again. I then have a small window to delicately coat each pendant before the resin dries. It takes about 2 days for the resin to dry solid and then I set the bails in the top. I use a heavy duty glue to coat the bail then firmly fit it in. After all that I have a pendant! The whole process typically takes about a 4-5 days. I will usually add a chain or ribbon and some sort of charm or beaded embellishment.

What’s your favorite thing to make?
I think I just love making things personalized for a person. I did a pendant that was in memory of a father and it had his picture on it. It was so touching and it meant a lot to me to be able make it. I also like to make mix CD’s which is not a craft per se but it is inspirational.

What is the weirdest thing you’ve made or strangest request you’ve gotten?
I love trying to think outside the box with my creations. I have a few pendants that are so obscure like a bearded lady adorned with a charm that says “believe”, or an alligator pulling a child in a wagon. After I make these I wonder, who is going to wear that? Then I think, probably the coolest person ever. I haven’t gotten any really extremely weird requests yet, but I am totally up for the challenge… earmuffs made from human hair anyone?

What are your future plans? Do you ever want to open a store or just keep it simple?
This question has haunted me a little. I find once I start thinking about it I get kind of anxious. For now I like keeping it simple. I’ve been selling my things on Etsy and my sales have been pretty consistent. I think I will let that determine how big I get. I do for see possibly setting up a booth at markets but I haven’t decided yet.

Visit Britt’s Etsy, Web site, or request a custom pendant by e-mail.

If you’re feeling especially inspired, here is a step-by-step guide to how to make your own pendants.

Twenty-five year old Brian Reed is a New York based contemporary artist. Through the Heart of it All is his first installation piece, meant to bring together old religious African and American-Indian traditions with modern performance art.

According to the Times, nude model Megan Hanford was removed from the storefront window by police. The gallery’s curator, David Zelikovsky, said that police forced her out of the window. The Greenwich police, however, maintain that Zelikovsky removed Hanford from the window at their request.

The installation is described as a nude woman (Hanford) standing under a web in which various objects -shark teeth, beads, clay pipes- and little else. Reed was quoted by the Times on why the nudity is essential in this piece of art, saying it is “so she can be fully at the center of that connectivity”.

The debate between art and infringement on expression is nothing new for New York to chew on. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that Spencer Tunick’s nude outdoor photoshoots were an creative expression, not a lewd act.

Unfortunately, Texans don’t quite have it figured out yet, either.

In 2006, a Texas art teacher was fired afer taking her fifth grade students on a field trip to an art museum featuring nudes. Sydney McGee took her students to the Dallas Museum of Art after obtaining signed permission slips from their parents. She was suspended after a parent complained about their child viewing a nude sculpture. Shortly thereafter, the Frisco school board voted to not renew her contract with the school.

In a world where kids have to get permission slips to visit art galleries where classical nudes are featured, this is just another example of American culture’s fear of the human body in its’ natural form.

Monday: Starting Out Strong

I drop my phone into my dog’s water bowl in my 7 a.m. daze. All day I feel, well, naked. Who is trying to reach me? My boss and I regularly text about orders and various other things at the bakery, so now I feel anxious about coming into work blind. I try to check my Facebook at least twice before I remember the phone is waterlogged. It can still make calls out, but the keys are all messed up so I have trouble sending texts. Sad thing is, that’s the biggest problem. Luckily, my dad’s girlfriend has an old BlackBerry phone she can give me. I’m able to switch my number over later that evening. Now I get a sweet BlackBerry, which allows me to get my e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter updates instantly. Awesome! Wait. Not awesome.

Tuesday: The Age of the CrackBerry

I realize now why the BlackBerry is referred to, in the parlance of our times, as the CrackBerry. I run out my battery playing with it before the day is up. When I go to charge my new toy, no matter what I try, the phone won’t charge. I leave it plugged in all night. When I wake up, CrackBerry is still dead. I take it to the Sprint store after school and they tell me I can repair it for $120, or buy a new one for $350. Either option sounds equally expensive. I think, I’m just a poor college student! The only reason I have this expensive phone is because I got it second-hand! I decide to go phone-less until better options that don’t cost a month’s rent are researched. Real reason: after experiencing the magic that is BlackBerry for the past 24 hours, there is no other option.

Wednesday: No Phone

Still phone-less. I update my Facebook to let people know my phone isn’t working, and to leave me a message there or on my voicemail if they needed me. I check my voicemail a few times over the next few days and am a little surprised to find that no one really needs me. That night I sit down to write a research paper but keep Facebook open in the background in case someone wanted to talk. I keep refreshing my feed whenever I finish a few paragraphs, tabbing between scholarly journals and profiles. Eventually I realize I am doing the unthinkable: multitasking. I end up finishing my research paper at 2 in the morning, but I suspect if Facebook didn’t exist, I would have gotten more sleep that night.

Thursday: Cigarettes and Cell Phones

I’ve been trying to come up with a metaphor for the empty feeling I’ve had the past three days, and I’ve got it. Cell phones and Facebook are like smoking cigarettes. I feel so uncool and out of the loop, like I should have something in my hands doing something at every moment of boredom. Before class everyone is checking their phone for Facebook updates, or texting, or Tweeting, and I’m stuck here reading my book. Since when am I supposed to look like a pretentious you-know-what for reading? I feel like I should be wearing a t-shirt that says “I’d rather be texting.” – which you can buy at Amazon, in all its’ rainbow-colored glory, for the small price of $20.

Friday: Excuses, Excuses

At this point I am pretty resigned to being phone-less, and am actually starting to enjoy not being at everyone’s beck-and-call. I have an excuse. I am PHONELESS! I begin, in the spirit of technology awareness week, to entertain the idea of deleting my Facebook and going to live in a yurt after I graduate from college. This is refreshing.

Saturday: Well, I Wonder…

I’m antsy for technology again. I fiddle with CrackBerry some more and lo and behold, I get it to charge. Then I find out that I can just buy an external battery charger instead of fixing my phone for a month’s rent. It’s nice having a phone, but the three days where no one needed me felt like an eternity. I think it was so hard because checking my phone, going on Facebook, and having microcontact with people is extremely habit-forming. Even when I didn’t have any spare time, I still kept Facebook open in the background as I worked on important assignments. Instead of just accepting that I couldn’t fix my phone, I spent time worrying about what would happen if I didn’t have it. I have to wonder what kind of self-control it would take to limit my time with technology- after all, if I’ve learned anything from this, it’s that my personal relationships aren’t likely to suffer. So why do I have Facebook open as I’m writing this?

Sunday: Reflection and Acceptance

If theres anything I’ve learned from this week, it’s that moderation is key when it comes to technology. I know that I have limits. For example, I think paying $350 for a phone is ridiculous. Even if it does everything I’ve ever hoped and dreamed of.  But why would I want to limit my use if it’s well within the “normal” range? Even though the evidence presented by Frontline about multitasking of college students is hard to argue with, I know there are some out there whose use is  more frequent than mine. For now, I just have to accept that being conscious of my own use is a step forward. Whether or not this kind of technology use exploding worldwide is a good or bad thing, seems irrevalent. Where the choice lies seems to be in our own individual habits.

Who is Mephitis mephitis?

Employees at a local furniture store got a special visitor with an interesting name today.

Mephitis mephitis, meaning “noxious gas, noxious gas”, is otherwise known as the common striped skunk. Mephitis struck fear into the hearts of customers and employees alike as it toddled through the rows of chairs and overstuffed sofas after getting in through the open front door.

National Furniture Liquidators does not have an open-door policy regarding potentially smelly creatures, but it seems they had no choice but to let the skunk freely wander the store until they could devise a way to capture it, warning customers “Hey, we got a loose skunk in here!”

Moving Mephitis mephitis

Employees attempted to lure the skunk out with a trail of whole wheat bread crumbs, as any insects or berries were not readily available for bait. Mephitis, hungry for a tasty earthworm or perhaps a leaf, refused to budge.

Manager Bill Frolichman arrived later in the afternoon after being out of town to discover his three employees hiding behind the counter as Mephitis enjoyed its’ new skunk domain. Instead of shutting the store down for the remainder of the day, Frolichmann tried to flush out the intruding creature with bright lights and rock music, who had by now found a a comfortable hiding place. Not even Rich Ulkus of Animal Allies could locate the skunk by shining a floodlight under the furniture.

Mephitis Mysteriously Vanishes

After several hours of death metal power ballads and traps set with tuna as bait, Mephitis seemingly has vanished from the store altogether. If you have seen Mephitis on the loose in Duluth, please call 687-566-5757 to report sightings.

As if the controversy over the Focus on the Family Tim Tebow ad wasn’t enough, Superbowl 2010′s ads featured an unparalled amount of sexism and expected gender roles that seem to be snuck in right under our noses. When Superbowl commercials, often commended for being among the year’s best advertisements, display that many harmful stereotypes about women AND men- we have a problem. Here’s some of the worst offenders:

Bye ladies, have fun with your little book club. Women… reading! Ooh, beer. This one does a terrible job of displaying sexism on both sides. Apparently men only care about sports, beer, and sex (“thrusting!”) and those hot women are just throwing their intelligence away by reading Little Women.

Would you unceremoniously throw your sexy, leather-clad wife out of the car to keep your Bridgestone tires? Oh, sorry, we meant life. LIFE. But those tires are really awesome.

Megan Fox sends a nudie picture from her bathtub, strategically placed bubbles and all. Because women have power, but only through the display of their bodies.

Shame on you, Dove. Self-esteem workshops for young girls and then this? Being a man who is comfortable in his own skin means being good at sports, fighting, having a lot of kids, mowing the lawn, and checking out scary noises in the dark.

There are many more offending ads, but before you get out your pitchfork, know that men aren’t having any of this either. According to Hulu’s Adzone, where viewers can like or dislike ads, both men and women dislike the sexist ads. Men preferred Google’s “Search On” and Doritos’ “House Rules” instead.

For one last laugh, check out Sarah Haskins’ Target Women for a hilarious look at sexism in advertising in 2009.

Dr. Alba visited St. Edward’s University on February 1 to share his research and discuss the history of Mexican immigration, focusing on public policy after September 11th. The number of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. has been increasing rapidly since the 1970’s, but in the past few years has been on the decline.

“For the first time since 1970 the population is decreasing,” said Alba.

This trend is the result of strict border control after 9/11. From 2006 to 2009, the number of Mexicans entering the country have sharply decreased. The number of Mexicans leaving the U.S. have also decreased.

“After September 11th there has been an increase in trying to control people crossing the US border,” said Alba.

Eros Hoagland for The New York Times

Throughout the 1960’s and 70’s, Mexico and the United States had a relaxed policy on immigration.

“Twenty years the phenomenon continued with no major problem,” Alba said. “Mexican policy was based on the assumption that there was demand for Mexican workers.”

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) signed by President Reagan in 1986 prevented the hiring of illegal immigrants, stilting both the U.S. and Mexican economies. In 1994, The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allowed immigrants to temporarily work in the United States. After 9/11, apprehension of Mexicans crossing the border illegally to the U.S. skyrocketed.

“Those who support economic logic have been losing favor… national security is gaining strength,” said Alba.

Roughly half of the Mexican population in Alba’s data were illegal immigrants. Alba supports the legalization of Mexican immigrants already living and working in the U.S.

“To come with documents is very important,” said Alba.

Alba placed emphasis on the responsibility of both Mexico and the United States to solve the immigration problem.

“Mexico should have a proactive policy vis-à-vis immigrants,” said Alba. “The most important thing for the Mexican government is to try for some sort of regulation.”

Blurb: The Bob Pagan Dealership in Galveston, Texas was burglarized earlier today by mechanic Roger Ed Creemen, who stole a BMW from the dealership to make his getaway. Deputies set up a roadblock and successfully stopped Creemen, who is currently being held in the Galveston County Jail.

A mechanic at the Bob Pagan Ford Dealership in Galveston has been arrested and charged with burglary and attempted capital murder today after hijacking a car that was at the dealership for repairs.

Roger Ed Creemen stole office equipment and used the car to speed away from the dealership. He was headed north on I-45 towards Houston when officers were able to stop Creemen by shooting out his tires. No one at the scene was critically injured. Deputy Hal Barrow, who was already on the scene attending to another accident, was treated for minor injuries by paramedics.

“One minute I was measuring skid marks, and the next you know I’m hearing tires squeal and I’m dodging a car,” said Barrow. “He still managed to clip my hip.”

Creemen said later he attempted to escape when he thought the officers had set up a roadblock to stop him. After making a quick U-turn and heading the opposite way on I-45, deputies at the scene shot out his tires.

Creemen is currently being held in the Galveston County Jail with bail set at $220,000. He sustained no injuries during the ordeal. The BMW had no such luck.

“It looked like it had been through a destruction derby,” said Sheriff Tyler.