V-Week Discussion Should Continue
By Joanna Edie '03

One of the events of V-Week was a discussion about sexual assault at the Claremont Colleges. It was open to all members of the 5-C community. In attendance were two Pomona Deans: Toni Clark, Dean of Women, and Matt Taylor, Dean of Campus Life, as well as Lena Roberts, Director of Campus Safety, Francine DeMarco, a representative from Project Sister, and students from Pitzer, Scripps, CMC and Pomona.

The discussion aimed to answer the following question: How can we create a more supportive environment for discourse about sexual assault on the five campuses? The main concern addressed by participants was that sexual assault is a "silent crime:" even though it happens, it is rarely reported. Without belittling the difficulty survivors of sexual assault must face when coming forward with such a private, traumatic experience, it is important to talk about how we, as a community, can make it easier to do so.

At the discussion, several suggestions were made as steps toward a more supportive environment for discourse:

We must go beyond freshman orientation to educate students about sexual assault. Programs for older students could maintain or renew education and awareness.

In addition to heterosexual, male to female assault, attention should be paid to same-sex assaults and male survivors.

Alliances between organizations with common goals (CSAFE, HEO, WU, Intercollegiate Women's Studies Dpt, etc.) should be formed in an effort to unite resources and momentum.

Are there more ways in which our community could become a more supportive place for survivors of sexual assault? I encourage you to open this dialogue in your personal circles and act on any new ideas you might have. Make suggestions to Dean Taylor or Dean Clark. Write your opinion in TSL. Join one of the campus organizations in their efforts to make our community a safer place to live and learn.