Winner of Four Collegiate Excellence in Journalism Awards fromo Our college. Our news. Our voice. Naugatuck Valley Community College April 1, 2016 Waterbury, Connecticut Vol. 60, Iss. 3 April Awareness legislation. It wasn’t until Columbia Journalism still, we are committed to…fostering a…culture Fight the Epidemic Review conducted a thorough investigation that that actively acknowledges and confronts the the story unraveled. There was no event that realities of rape, sexual assault and intimate Chelsea Clow/Emily Daly night at the fraternity in question. partner violence on our campuses and in our Though rare, false reports like this under- communities.” mine the larger issue. Naysayers eagerly cite a Regarding affirmative consent, the cur- case like this as proof that women “make up” rent policy for the 17 CSCU institutions reads, rape claims—to punish a boyfriend, to gain “Consent is the equal approval, given freely, will- notoriety. It’s this kind of thinking that discour- ingly, and knowingly of each participant to desired ages victims from coming forward. But reluc- sexual involvement. Consent is an affirmative, tance to report—and the continued shaming of conscious decision – indicated clearly by words victims—slows the push to change a problem or actions–to engage in mutually accepted sexual of epidemic proportions. contact.” The federal Campus Sexual Violence Ojakian continued, “I believe we have a Elimination Act, sponsored by Sen. Robert good approach, but we can and should always Casey (D, PA) and House Rep. Carolyn Maloney seek to improve…we see this legislation as a (D, NY 12th), will address stalking, the high chance to improve our efforts…for our 92,000 risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence, students.” and campus sexual CT assault. This new Campus Awareness Events colleges legislation will cre- work to ate transparency, April 6th ~ Campus Conversation: protect Sexual Assault ~ Consent/Intervention with campus officers students L501 5:00–6:15 PM helping press charges by pro- to state police. It will April 20th ~ Sexual Assault Awareness Day viding Stop the stigma. Support survivors. facilitate victim Educational Info and Teal Nail Polish for Awareness various Artwork Courtesy of Mandi Hinrichs advocacy and coun- Prism Lounge 9:30 AM– 12:30 PM resources seling, and prompt, Tech Hall Atrium 4:30—6:30 PM to ensure Sexual assault is not limited by race, gender or According to Rape, Abuse, Incest National fair, impartial inves- Events sponsored by Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, NVCC safety socioeconomic background; it destroys lives Network (RAINN), of over 293,000 sex assaults tigations and trials. Campus Response Team and the Human Services Club. and across all levels of society. According to the per year, 68% aren’t reported to police. RAINN Though it seems an sexual CDC, in the US alone, 1 in 5 women and 1 in also reports 98% of assailants will never go to excellent start, there has been little press about assault prevention. NVCC provides many 59 men experience rape in their lifetime. As jail. With such heartbreaking statistics, it’s no this important bill. important resources. The Women’s Center, most victims suffer sexual violence before age wonder victims resist coming forward. On the state level, a new law in the works Kinney Hall Room 405, is a safe place for 25, colleges must ensure student safety. Yet So when someone reports an account will further protect college students from sex- women in need of information and support. on American campuses, rape and assault are of abuse, it’s difficult to imagine they’d lie. ual assault. Last month, BOR President Mark E. Students can also seek counseling in CAPSS an ever-growing problem—many call it an However, this is what happened to Rolling Stone Ojakian testified in support of an affirmative (Kinney 520) or contact Dean of Students Sarah epidemic. Some place blame on the fraternity magazine, which printed a story in November action bill, stating, “…the prevalence of sexual Gager (Kinney 509a) for information. Be sure to system, while others go further, pointing 2014 about Jackie, who claimed she was sexu- assault on college campuses... has a devastating attend an event this month at NVCC hosted by fingers at “youth culture’s” glamorization of ally assaulted by a group of men at an on-cam- impact on the lives of students… We are united Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury and partici- drugs, alcohol, and partying prevalent on US pus University of Virginia frat party. This as a CSCU system to improve prevention, edu- pate in local events to raise awareness of this campuses. story spurred national outcry and demand for cation, response, and support services. Further vital issue. Together we can make a difference. Dustin Hoffman as a character with intellec- are inclined to commit violent acts. The 2012 tual disabilities in addition to “savant” abil- Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting cre- Demystifying the Puzzle ities. While Hoffman’s performance raised ated sensationalism and hysteria because the Mark Kacyrat general autism awareness, it also led to mis- gunman was on the autism spectrum. Based understanding and stereotypes. To the public, on a lack of tangible and credible evidence, Puzzles can confuse, frustrate, and at times, autism. “Childhood Schizophrenia” was a sep- Rainman became the archetype of an autistic medical and scientific communities strongly seem impossible. Few puzzles, however, exhibit arate condition autistics were diagnosed with person. It can be argued the “savant” abilities reject the notion of a link between autism and these characteristics in ways autism can. The until the 1980s when it was dropped in favor of Rainman also created confusion regarding savage violence. The myth is based on confir- puzzling characteristics of autism carry with of autism only. thinking styles among autistics. In a major mation bias in which correlation is confused them misinformation, misunderstanding, According to Maryland-based advocacy book, Thinking in Pictures, animal scientist and with causation. “The gunman had autism; ignorance, and stereotypes. The Centers group the Autism Society, the American advocate, Temple Grandin, an individual on therefore, he did it because he was autistic,” fails for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Psychological Association, in DSM-5, replaced the autism spectrum, describes herself as a when scaled to evidence and consensus of sci- estimates that one percent of the global Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and “visual thinker.” Her thought process involves ence and medicine. Lastly, Gelbar states people population has autism. This minority includes other pervasive developmental disorders playback of visual imagery in her mind (like a with autism are more likely to be victims of vio- males and females, and all ethnic groups and under the umbrella diagnosis “autism spec- video). Besides visual thought, autistics can also lence or to self-harm rather than hurting others. socio-economic backgrounds. While greater trum disorder.” This change was made to bet- be linguistic and/or mathematical thinkers. The damage of myths regarding autism can understanding, awareness, and acceptance of ter reflect the different variations in symptoms Another major myth is that persons with best be fathomed by people who actually have autism have arisen over the past three decades, and characteristics in autism. Gelbar explains autism lack empathy. According to Gelbar, this it, along with their advocates and loved ones. full integration in a “neurotypical” society the “spectrum” concept is rooted in the real- idea stems from the common difficulty among While autism is seen as a developmental dis- remains a distant dream. Numerous myths ity of enormous variation in the characteristics those on the spectrum in expressing emotional ability, there are some who see it as something about people with autism serve to marginalize among persons with autism. While difficul- reciprocity. Contrary to myth, Grandin’s abil- else. According to Dr. Gelbar and advocacy them, impeding full integration. ties in social interaction and communication ity to sense fear and discomfort in livestock groups, the movement known as “neurodi- According to Nick Gelbar, Ph.D, Research are given traits, some may also have certain headed for slaughter served as a foundation of versity” seeks to redefine autism as merely Director of the University Center of Excellence sensory issues. Repetitive behaviors and rigid her crowning achievement: the invention of a a different way of viewing and experiencing in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at thought patterns are also common characteris- more humane livestock handling process for the world. Through the lens of neurodiver- UConn Health Center, the word “autism” is tics. There is also variation of intellectual abil- meat production. Gelbar adds that empathy in sity, an inclusive, decent, and diverse society is rooted in the Greek word for self. Austrian ities among people with autism, just as in the autistics varies in a similar manner to neuro- one including a “diversity of mind.” After all, psychoanalysis pioneer Sigmund Freud used neurotypical population. typical individuals. promotion of greater inclusion and meaning- this term for “self-withdrawal.” This could A common misconception is that autis- Unfounded perceptions regarding lack of ful acceptance in society is what people with be seen as a primitive way to explain diffi- tics are essentially alike. Dr. Gelbar states this empathy have served as a seed from which autism need. To quote Temple Grandin, peo- culties in social interaction and communi- is largely the fault of “cultural exemplars.” A a more marginalizing, damaging myth has ple on the autism spectrum should be seen as cation that are key traits of individuals with notorious example is the film,Rainman , starring grown: the perception that people with autism “different not less.” 2 News The Tamarack, April 1 , 2016 SGA President On Immigration Reform EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Richard Bosco Join the Share Stephen Balkaran, Adjunct Professor of xenophobic rhetoric exploding from some pres- Cause! Some History and Political Science here at NVCC, idential candidates.