CTHE TUFTS DAILY] Medford, MA 02155 Tuesday, March 13,1990 Vol XX, Number 35 Students attend forum on date Asbestos removed rape - and sexual harassment from Alumnae Hall by ALISSA KRINSKY by EMANUEL BARDANIS background air sampling test, a Contributing Writer Daily Editorial Board pump is used to pull air across a Several Tufts organizations and Asbestos removal from Class- filter which is then examined under the Somerville Police Department room 15 in Alumnae Hall that a microscope in order to deter- gave a presentation last Wednes- began on Feb. 27 was completed mine the amount of asbestos in day night on preventing and deal- Friday, according to Lenane But- the atmosphere. ing with date rape and sexual ler, environmental health techni- “We have thoroughly inspected harassment. cian for the Tufts Environmental the campus,” Pitoniak said of an Organizers for the discussion Health and Safety Office. inspection conducted by her of- included the Tufts Police Depart- Construction Project Manager fice a few years ago. She said that ment, the Counseling Center, the John Crow said that the asbestos as a result of that inspection, the Somerville Police Department. removal work on Alumnae Hall Environmental Health and Safety Actively Working for Acquain- is part of current renovation on Office targeted several buildings tance RapeEducation(AWARE), Jackson Gym and Cohen Audito- on campus for asbestos removal. THINK and the Inter-Greek rium, necessitated by the con- “Our long-term goal is to Council Committee on Sexual struction of the Aidekman Arts remove all asbestos from the Harassment and Date RaDe Aware- -1 Center in the lot adjacent to these campus,” Pitoniak said. She added ness. The session, which’was open ’ Photo by Karl Schatz buildings. however, that as a result of budg- to the general public, took piace Members of the Tufts Police and local public safety officials Butler said that the asbestos etary ax! other factors, this goal in Barnum 008. addressed students on the hues of date rapeand sexual harassment. insulation removed from Alum- will take several years to achieve. Peggy Barrett, coordinator of nae Hall was not in perfect condi- Somerville Police Department. Pitoniak said that there are sev- Women’s Programs, said yester- someoiiecompels another person tion. “There probably were a few eral buildings on campus still slated Cunningham explained that day she estimates from studies to submit to sexual acts against bruises,”she said. She added that for asbestos removal but she said rape has nothing to do with the she has read that ten Tufts women their will. while the asbestos was damaged, she could not specify which build- Christiansen said that in the sexual needs of the aggressor but, per week, during the nine months it did not pose a health risk to ings. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, rather, involves a for domi- when school is in session, are need people using the classroom. Although asbestos is a car- convicted rapists can be sentenced nation on the part of the rapist. victims of an attempted rape or a Environmental Health Special- cinogenic substance when inhaled, to up to 20 years in prison. Cunningham stressed theneed coi.:mitted acquaintance rape. ist Michele Pitoniak said that the asbestos insulation which is un- According to Christiansen, if for caution in regard(t0date rape. Barrett explained that date rape asbestos was removed not damaged does not constitute a rapists are found to havecommit- “Trust a date no more you would because falls under the general definition of any potential health threat, but danger, Butler said. ted the offense with others, called trust anyone else you’ve known of rape. However, in the case of because it is routine remove any According to Pitoniak, while date rape, the victim is assaulted a “gang rape,” or to have inflicted for the same amount of time,”she asbestos when renovation is under- said. her office does not have regular by someone with whom they have serious injury on their victims, way in or around the building. checks for damaged asbestos, all gone out on a social engagement. they are eligible for a sentence of Inspector Charles Lonero of Pitoniak explained that if asbes- physical plant employees are the Tufts Police, another speaker Acquaintance mpe, Barrett said, life imprisonment. tos was not removed, construc- trained to recognize damaged at the forum, said that if a person is a more general‘term, which Christiansen said that it is tion could cause extensive dam- asbestos and must immediately means that a’victim has been imperative for sexual assault vic- is a victim of sexual assault, it is age to the asbestos, releasing report it to the Environmental assaulted by someone they know, tims to report these crimes imme- important to report it immedi- carcinogenic fibers into the air. Health and Safety Office. such as a classmate. diately, even if they are unsure ately to a local hospipl. He cited Butler said that “background If physical plant employees “It’s happening on college that they wish to press charges. Beth Israel Hospital in Boston as air sampling” tests done before, discover damaged asbestos, Pi- campuses all over the country,” He explained that if victims want a facility equipped to handle rape during and after the renovations toniak said, “it would either be to press charges in the future, said Lynn Somin, a member of victims.. revealed that the quality of the air removed or repaired.” She added they will stand a better chance of THINK. “Because.Tufts has not Lonero said that rape victims in the room was below the haz- that “in almost every instance we done a survey [about date rape] success if they had filed a com- should also call a police depart- ardous level established by the people are iess aware of it.” plaint immediately after the as- ment to report the crime. “If you state. Pitoniak explained that in a see ASBESTOS, page 9 At Wednesday’s session, five sault. don’t report this, it could happen speakers presented facts about rape If a suspected rape is reported again to someone else,” he said. and advice for rape and sexual immediately, Christiansen said, The final speaker at the forum Bush seeks $300 million in assault victims. The audience it allows the police to gather evi- was Lisa Coole, a victim witness included pledges from all of the dence such as tom clothing and advocate for the Somerville Dis- aid to Nicaragua, Contras campus’ fraternities and sorori- any evident bruises or scratches trict Court. Coole stressed that if ties. on the victim’s body. someone is experiencing sexual WASHINGTON (AP)-- Presi- the Sandinism will have exhausted John Christiansen,head of the “One fourth of all women will harassment, they can use the re- dent Bush will ask Congress for a the country’s stocks of oil by the domestic violence unit for the he the victim of sexual assault or sources of the court to seek pro- quick $300 million to support the time they turn over power, they Somerville Police Department, attempted assault,” said Mary tection. newly elected government of said. Nicaraguan opposition leader U.S. aid would help Nicara- told attendants that rape involves Cunningham,an inspector for the see RAPE, page 9 sex or “unnatural sex” in which domestic violence unit for the Violeta Chamorro, administration gua buy oil from other sources, sources said Monday. presumably Mexico and Vene- Bush is expected to announce zuela, said one senior administra- Republics assail presidency plan the request, which includes some tion official. $30 million to help repatriate the Lithuanians were so dismayed expected to boycott Tuesday’s vote Aid for planting, oil purchases MOSCOW (AF’)-- Mikhail S. Contra rebels to their homeland, and Contra demobilization, plus Gorbachev’s plan for a powerful by Gorbachev’s proposed strength- on the constitutional amendment, ening of the presidency that they which could fail for lack of the as early as Tuesday, the sources smaller amounts for medical and presidency to hold the Soviet said. rushed to declare independence required two-thirds majority. All technical economic assistance, Union together ran into a wall of Bush also is expected to an- before it passed. five of those republics are pos- would make up roughly half of opposition Monday, one day after nounce the lifting of U.S. trade Lithuania fractured the union by “Tomorrow, Gorbachev sible candidatesfor followingthe the $300 million package, the Mr. sanctions which have been in place sources said. declaring its independence. will get dictatorial powers with Lithuanians into secession. But throughout the day, depu- since May 1, 1985, the sources Theother $150 million, which Parliamentarians from other the right to overrun any republi- said. has not yet been as clearly de- can parliament,”said Algimantas ties huddled with Gorbachev and independence-minded republics Mrs. Chamorro, leader of the fined, would go to help the coun- Chekuolis, a Lithuanian who with each other seeking compromises. took the floor of the Congress of 14-party coalition which upset try pay off certain overdue inter- People’s Deputies to assail the his republic’s declaration of in- At one point, Estonian Presi- dent Arnold Ruutel, Gorbachev President Daniel Ortega of the national financialobligations and proposed presidency as far too dependence now describes him- leftist Sandinista party Feb. 25, to encourage economic develop- strong for the loose federation of self as a former member of the and Gorbachev’s aide Georgi will inherit a couritry whose eta- ment, they said. Soviet Congress, attending an Shakhnazarov pulled up chairs sovereign countriesthey envision as omy has been devastated by a as the future Soviet Union. observer. behind the dais and Ruutel ear- As Gorbachev opened the ses- nestly pitched a deal to the Soviet decade of mismanagement and “ThefactthattheU.S.S.R.