Students March To Protest Rapes Ewu Rally Comes In Wake Of Three Reported Incidents
Nearly 200 people rallied Tuesday at Eastern Washington University to protest a string of acquaintance rapes involving EWU students this fall.
Carrying candles, they marched from Pence Union Building to Showalter Hall to hear speakers denounce rape.
“For those of us who consider women’s safety essential to women’s equality, today is our day,” said Lee Swedberg, director of women’s programs on campus.
Provost James Hoffman announced stepped-up efforts by the university to prevent acquaintance rape and to educate students about alcohol and drug abuse.
“Rape is a very ugly situation, and this administration simply will not tolerate it,” Hoffman said, outlining what he called a “zero-tolerance policy.”
Tuesday’s rally comes in the wake of three reported rapes in one month involving EWU students.
Two of them occurred in campus dormitory rooms in October, which led to charges against two male students. A third reported rape at a Cheney apartment Nov. 11 will not lead to charges, said Police Chief Jerry Gardner.
In that case, the man and woman, both 19, were drinking alcohol. The woman told police she did not consent to sex, but the man said he thought the woman had agreed to it. He later passed a lie detector test, Gardner said.
The Spokane County prosecutor’s office declined to press charges because of insufficient evidence, Gardner said.
However, a 21-year-old student is under investigation for furnishing alcohol to the 19-year-olds in that case.
Cheney Sgt. Greg Lopes said the same 21-year-old also is believed to have supplied alcohol involved in one of the dormitory rapes.
Campus officials said it is unprecedented for three rapes involving EWU students to be reported in such a short time.”Rape is about power and control, not about making love,” Franke told the rally.
Four years ago, the university started a rape education and awareness program which encourages women to report sexual assaults.
Over the years, many more rapes have occurred than have been reported to police, say officials at the EWU counseling center.
University officials are hiring a new counselor for rape prevention and treatment of victims as well as substance abuse counseling.
Student conduct codes are being reviewed, and staff training will be increased, Hoffman said.
New students will be required to learn about rape prevention and awareness during orientation.
The university also is going to increase the number of dormitory floors where alcohol is prohibited. Currently, students who are 21 years old or older may have alcohol in their rooms on most floors.
Also, the campus is considering providing more same-sex dormitory areas so that more students could decide not to live in a coed setting.
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