University Investigates Allegations of Date Rape Rape Victims Have Legal Options, Can Work Through Courts Related Local News
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VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY VOLUME 85 ISSUE 4 RAPE SURVIVING University investigates allegations of date rape VU student shares her BY PAUL COOK AND Fellow members of the fraternity from the fraternity. were unaware of what had happened until Several members of the fraternity triumph over emotional MELODY L GRIFFIN Monday night, the source said. He said came forward to file statements with the Jordi Editors that at that time, the victim came forward VUPD the following day, said the source. to the president of the fraternity, Jason He said that members also discussed the destruction of rape Valparaiso University Police are cur DeVaux. According to the source, the vic situation with Dean of Men Robert rently investigating an alleged acquaintance tim said that she did not want to hurt the Schroer and with Coordinator of Greek BY MELODY L GRIFFIN rape that occurred at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, but that she wanted the problem Housing William Thiel. Torch Editor fraternity house on Saturday night. taken care of. "We wanted to take care of this VUPD Chief Ed Lloyd would only The source contends that DeVaux problem," the source said. "It was so VU junior Kirsten Lee is not a victim - she's a confirm that an investigation of this charge then advised the victim to go to the police shocking and outrageous to us. This is not survivor. It's an important distinction to make is underway at the University level. A and to a hospital. When contacted, something we expected to be a problem about Lee, who has literally been down the road to source associated with the fraternity, how DeVaux directed all media questions to Pat for us. We have trusted each other to hell and back again, living through the nightmare ever, confirmed both the location and the Downing, VU director of public relations, know that things like this are terribly of rape twice in her relatively short 21 years. date. and to the University Police. wrong." Although it is still difficult to talk about, Lee This source reported that an associ Downing confirmed that a report The Dean of Women, Dolores feels compelled to speak out because "silence is the ate member of the Delta Sigma Phi frater had been made, but said that she was Ruosch, was not available for comment. biggest weapon that rapists have...and this secret nity had raped a female student at the unable to give further details until the Thiel did not return the Torch's phone can kill the victims." For her, it is also important to house Saturday evening. The source said investigation was completed. call. speak out on the experience, because she feels that that although the victim had been drinking The source reports that Delta Sigma As of Thursday morning, Assistant if she didn't, it would be equivalent to turning her alcohol before she came to the house, he Phi then convened their executive board to Chief Nelson of the Valparaiso City Police back on all the women who are living through simi was unsure whether the alleged rapist had discuss the matter with the alleged rapist. Department said that the alleged rape had lar experiences. Her most notable moment as the provided any more alcohol. The source The source would not comment on the not yet been reported to the City Police. voice and face of the rape survivor came when she reported that the alleged rapist had not discussion, but he stated that the meeting was the keynote speaker at Take Back the Night last himself been drinking. resulted in the expulsion of the individual year. "I want to work toward a future where rape doesn't exist and men and women work to dignify SMASHING and love one another," she said. Yet for Lee, the stigma of rape remains. Photo by Paul Cook Throughout Thursday she grappled with the deci Tordi Hews Editor sion of whether she would give the Torch permis sion to print her name. "My life is too good now," Wednesday's heavy rain presented she said. "I want to be considered a student, not a more difficulties than just wet feet, as roads rape survivor." on campus flooded and became hazardous However, she decided to permit the Torch to for drivers. print her name. "A rape survivor has the will to At approximately 3 pjn. on Wednes move on. I decided I need to do everything I can day, an auto accident occurred on Union to destigmatize this role." Street near Guild and Memorial Halls. A Lee was repeatedly raped when she was nine car skidded off the road and impacted with by someone outside of her family living in her a lamp post by the side of the street. home. The experience shaped her early years. The driver of the car, a young "My personality was still forming at that age, woman, was not seriously hurt, according and my life became shaped by this," she said. "The to police officers at the scene. Her Up was man who raped me told me it was my fault because cut and she appeared to be in shock, so an I was 'too cute,' so I gained an immense amount of ambulance was called. weight so I wouldn't be attractive. I failed in VU Police and City Police officers school. My life was molded around shame. I can't arrived on the scene within minutes and tell you how difficult it is to accept that if this act is helped to direct traffic while University the rapist's fault, that you have lost complete con employees made sure the woman was all trol of your life. So you try to make sense out of right. madness." Both the car and the lamp post were Lee never mentioned the abuse until she damaged by the impact, and the post was decided she had to choose whether she could go on partially uprooted from the ground. A tow this way. She chose to live, "...but when you are truck arrived shortly after the ambulance living through the pain of rape, you're not sure if and the road was quickly re-opened. the hurt is ever going to go away." According to VU Police Chief Ed Lloyd, no further details were available at this time. SURVIVAL topoge7 LEGAL RIGHTS Rape victims have legal options, can work through courts related local news BY JENNIFER VOIGT alleged assailant through the campus judiciary cal evidence or witnesses. Civil courts, however, board or through an administrative "do not require substantiating evidence...women Tordi Sta9 Writer hearing—always keeping in mind the alleged have much better chances," said Passafume. Pas stories assailant's right to due process. Passafume safume went on to stress that the victim does not Victims of rape wishing to prosecute their stressed that the university only has jurisdiction have to choose between courses of action. If the assailants have specific legal options both within over a student until he graduates. Consequences perpetrator is found not guilty in a criminal trial, on page 7 the University community and within the juris to the perpetrator under the VU judicial system the victim "still has a chance" in a civil trial, stat diction of the state government. Valparaiso Uni include disciplinary probation which Passafume ed Passafume. versity students whose assailant is also a VU stu described simply as "a warning," and mandatory Director of the Porter County Prosecutor's dent have the option to take their cases to the counselling. More severe consequences include office's Sexual Assault Recovery Project and vic VU judicial system as well as to the Indiana state expulsion from the university. Though the Stu tims rights advocate attorney Carol Bradley fur judicial system. dent Counseling and Development Center is ther discussed the pros and cons of going According to Jody Passafume, counselor willing to provide advocacy for women going through the courts. The legal process is "skewed for VU's Student Counseling and Development through the university system, Passafume herself deliberately to make sure that no one who is Center, in order for the victim to prosecute has never guided a woman through the process. innocent is found guilty," Bradley stated. She through the university the victim must report her Laments Passafume, "That is a very sad fact when explained that in a criminal case the victim is a rape to the VU police. The VUPD investigation I think of the numbers of women that I have witness, and that the rape is considered a "crime would include an interview with the victim and counseled that have been raped on this campus." against the whole of society." The charge is then with the alleged perpetrator and interviews A victim's legal options within the jurisdic therefore brought forward by the state and tried with any witnesses. The VUPD would then turn tion of the state include an option to prosecute by a prosecutor. over the information to the office of the Vice through both civil and criminal courts. Passa President for Student Affairs which would try the fume stressed that criminal courts require physi RIGHTS fopoge 7 WHAT'S ON AT VU? Compiled each week by the Student Activities Office, Valparaiso Union. If you have any questions call 464-5008. ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 13 Physics Help Session Cooperative Education Workshops Grandparents' Day Neils 125, 8:00 - 9:00 pm. Every Monday at 3:00 - 4:00 pm and Thursday at Worship Overnight Visitation Committee Meeting 10:00 - 11:00 am. Co-op students are required to attend a Hey UPPERCLASSMEN! Get involved with the Student Chapel, 8:45 and 10:30 am.