Students tackle sexual violence

One in five women will be raped at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For men, it’s one in 71.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and here at Portland State the Women’s Resource Center and other student organizations are raising awareness about issues of sexual violence with education and outreach.

“[Sexual assault] is a critical issue on campus which affects students’ ability to safely access their education,” said Jessica Amo, director of the WRC.

SAAM events this month have already featured a free self-defense class, a workshop on how to relate in a consensual way and a discussion about how to date a survivor of assault.

Scheduled tonight is a panel discussion about rape culture in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 296/298, from 6–8 p.m. At the same time, there will also be a showing of The Invisible War—a documentary about rape in the U.S. military—in the Multicultural Center, located on the second floor of SMSU.

The full calendar of SAAM events leads up to Take Back the Night/Bike Back the Night, which will take place on Thursday outside of SMSU. The event will feature keynote speakers, a resource fair and entertainment.

In light of assaults on PSU’s campus this year, as well as the growing urban setting in which the university resides, the Campus Public Safety Office has been working toward a safer environment.

CPSO Chief Phil Zerzan declined to characterize the incidence of sexual assaults on campus. “One is too many,” he said. “We think that sexual assaults are grossly underreported as it is. We want to see an increase in reporting.”

In January, CPSO hired a detective to assist in sexual assault investigations on campus. The detective has undergone extensive training in responding to and investigating sexual assault situations through the Boston University medical center and the Portland Women’s Crisis Line.

CPSO also has a memorandum of understanding with the Portland Police Bureau facilitating joint investigations.

“We are going to be able to provide a survivor-centered model that includes 24-hour advocacy,” Zerzan said. “We work closely with a care team, including the Queer Resource Center and the Women’s Resource Center, to provide an integrated approach.”

Student Selina RedBird, a junior majoring in anthropology, said this kind of violence hasn’t touched her personally.

“I generally feel very safe. I’ve been prudent to be careful and stay in well-lit areas,” RedBird said. “Nothing’s ever happened to me or anyone
I know.”

RedBird is aware of resources available through CPSO and of the Blue Light phone system, but thinks that there’s still more to do.

“I do feel there should be more [emergency phone] blue boxes on campus because I’ve heard of a few instances in which women were assaulted and no help was nearby,” she said.

The Blue Light phones, recognizable by tall columns reading “Emergency” with blue lights on top, automatically notify CPSO when they are picked up or the call button is pushed. The system, which dates back to the 1970s, continues to provide a direct line to assistance which can prove invaluable in a crisis situation.

‘For more information about resources on campus, as well as a full calendar of SAAM events, visit pdx.edu/wrc.