A hard lesson
Students raise sexual-assault awareness
Amanda Rose
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Front Page
Students Against Violence Through Education (SAVE) and Menfor Violence Prevention (MVP), which are part of the Office of Violence Response and Prevention, put together a weeklong activity to help raise awareness on campus and reach out to people who have been sexually assaulted. Members of these organizations are taking turns sitting on a rock in the Oval to help raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Katie Ogle, senior in psychology and member of SAVE, says she sat on the rock for six hours on Monday and was already up to three hours by noon on Tuesday.
"I've had a lot of people read our sign and I answer their questions, but the sign for the most part is pretty self-explanatory," Ogle said. "There are a lot of people who avoid this area altogether and intentionally go out of their way to walk around it."
Paresa Tafreshi, junior in nursing, says that she respects these students for taking their time to inform other students about such tragedies.
"I think it's really cool they are doing this," Tafreshi said. "I respect them and it makes me reflect on my life now."
Sitting on the rock is to symbolize how uncomfortable, alone and out of place a victim of rape or sexual assault would feel. Students in these organizations are taking turns with sitting shifts. They are expected to eat on the rock and sleep on the rock. For students who want to sit and chat, extra chairs and a tent are provided by the organizations.
Ashley Taylor, senior in psychology and member of SAVE, says that she will be sitting on the rock throughout the week and has signed up for all of Thursday night's shift so far.
"Someone will always be on the rock, but there must be at least two members at the rock during the night, for safety reasons," Taylor said.
Taylor says that the rock is symbolically fitting.
"Most rape victims experience side effects such as insomnia," Taylor said. "It is hard to sleep when you are constantly plagued by nightmares; likewise, it is also hard to sleep on a rock."
Katie Ogle, senior in psychology and member of SAVE, says she sat on the rock for six hours on Monday and was already up to three hours by noon on Tuesday.
"I've had a lot of people read our sign and I answer their questions, but the sign for the most part is pretty self-explanatory," Ogle said. "There are a lot of people who avoid this area altogether and intentionally go out of their way to walk around it."
Paresa Tafreshi, junior in nursing, says that she respects these students for taking their time to inform other students about such tragedies.
"I think it's really cool they are doing this," Tafreshi said. "I respect them and it makes me reflect on my life now."
Sitting on the rock is to symbolize how uncomfortable, alone and out of place a victim of rape or sexual assault would feel. Students in these organizations are taking turns with sitting shifts. They are expected to eat on the rock and sleep on the rock. For students who want to sit and chat, extra chairs and a tent are provided by the organizations.
Ashley Taylor, senior in psychology and member of SAVE, says that she will be sitting on the rock throughout the week and has signed up for all of Thursday night's shift so far.
"Someone will always be on the rock, but there must be at least two members at the rock during the night, for safety reasons," Taylor said.
Taylor says that the rock is symbolically fitting.
"Most rape victims experience side effects such as insomnia," Taylor said. "It is hard to sleep when you are constantly plagued by nightmares; likewise, it is also hard to sleep on a rock."
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