Tragedy too close to home; what to do?

[MrPeter]

Dear THR,

Today in my email, I was sent the following terrible news:

Campus Bulletin
October 15, 2007

Sexual Assault Reported on Campus

A sexual assault was reported just before 3 a.m. at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. A female student indicated that an intruder entered her ground floor apartment in the residential housing area through a window, threatened her with a hand gun, sexually assaulted her and left through the window. The student reported the incident to campus police and an officer and residence hall staff member were on the scene within two minutes of her call. A campus sexual assault counselor also provided assistance.

Evergreen police called in a Thurston County canine team and evidence collection team to aid in the investigation.

The assailant was reportedly wearing a black ski mask, a dark sweater with a full-length zipper down the front with a lighter color along the zipper, and dark pants tucked into calf-length military-type boots. He was also wearing gloves. He was reported to be of average height and weight.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact The Evergreen State College Police Services at 360-867-6832.

Campus Police Chief Ed Sorger said this type of incident is extremely rare at Evergreen. The last forcible sexual offense investigated by campus police occurred in 2002.

Police will be stepping up campus patrols in the housing areas and all faculty, staff and students are reminded to lock doors and windows in residential units and offices, avoid walking alone on campus after dark (for an after-hours escort, call Police Services at 867-6832) and report any suspicious activity to campus police.

In addition to normal safety precautions, Police Services can also conduct a safety assessment of individual on-campus housing units upon request.

I am affected by this news in a way that I can't really put into words. It's been on my mind all day, and to be frank, I don't really know how this could be prevented with current rules and regulations on campus housing.

A little bit of pertinent information, I don't know who the victim was, but I live VERY close to this college, and go on campus daily to use the gym facilities. I have certainly walked by the bedroom window that was broken into many times over the last four years.

I feel like there must have been some way to prevent this from happening. The police are a constant presence on campus, and like it says in the article and my sig, the police were there within minutes of the *@%(! having left. The campus is fairly well lit, and the windows all have locks on them or sicks/boards preventing them from sliding open (if the lock is broken). I'm thinking something like having a shortened stick that would allow the window to open a little for ventilation (which is necessary to make these dorms livable) but not let someone it, but how hard would it be to smash the single pane glass, or lift the window off of its track?

Our campus policy allows no firearms on campus or in housing by students, meaning I can carry all I want. What could she have done to defend herself while in her bed at 3am against a "medium build" guy?

As an afterthought I guess; I feel like there is something I need to do about this, but what? I have emailed the sender of this bulletin asking for more information when it is available, but I don't feel like that's enough? I have an overwhelming sense of the need to take some sort of action?

 

[Tyris]

Our campus policy allows no firearms on campus or in housing by students, meaning I can carry all I want. What could she have done to defend herself while in her bed at 3am against a "medium build" guy?

A knife pulled from under the pillow and thrust into the rapist's trachea would probably do the trick. Or she could have simply ignored the stupid firearm disarmament policy, maybe a prosecutor in NYC would press charges against a woman who just killed a rapist -- I doubt she'd get burned at the stake for it at college. Even still, better than being raped.

I used to carry spiked brass knuckles when I was in college and slept with a hatchet under my pillow when I lived in the dorms. You don't have to voluntarily disarm just because someone or some piece of paper tells you to.

Most college girls I knew thought poorly of armed self defense and thought only paranoid people carry knives and guns. They were all about rape whistles and emergency phones in parking lots. They were beyond hope to begin with.

-T

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Kimber Guardian Angel. Non-lethal, small, could help. Maybe a big can of BEAR SPRAY under the pillow. Honestly, when matters of personal safety are obviously MOST dire...I'm more than willing to dismiss the "campus policy". I would much rather have my daughter deal with the legal & emotional issues of BLOWING THIS GUY'S HEAD COMPLETELY OFF than to deal with the physical & emotional issues of being the helpless victim of his sexual assault.

 

[RoadkingLarry]

Heck a good set of knitting needles will do in a pinch...

 

[yesit'sloaded]

My girlfriend is well armed while at home. Our school bans defensive weapons for students as well. She took a self defense class (not the kind where they teach you to give the man your purse and scream, the kind where they teach you to kill in nasty ways like crushing a windpipe or slitting arteries) and she carries SABRE OC with tear gas and marking dye. Better than nothing I guess.

 

[Dorryn]

They call us paranoid when we arm ourselves. All the women that I knew in graduate school and undergrad followed the "it won't happen to me" line of thought. I wish more rapists lost valuable portions of anatomy to edged-weapon-armed females.

 

[strat81]

Shouldn't rape defense be taught to women in high school phys ed? Field hockey is fun and all, but it would be nice if we empowered our young women.

But yes, a nice big Ka-bar would be good for under the pillow.

My thoughts go out to the young lady.

 

[1911Tuner]

Ice pick through the temple...

Sorry. I have a special hatred for men who rape women and for anyone who harms children and the elderly.

 

[TallPine]

I am affected by this news in a way that I can't really put into words. It's been on my mind all day

Wait until it happens to someone in your immediate family ...

 

[Oana]

It's always felt a little more in the gut when it happens close to home. I know the feeling of wanting to "do something"...the question is always what, and how?

Do you know anyone, any instructors or pro-self-defense police officers, who might be willing to teach a class? You could get together with a qualified instructor, offer the course for free, type up the instructor's handout (bullet points and easy diagrams are nice - e.g. the Five Stages of Violent Crime) and copy it for him/her. Maybe you could figure out how to do an NRA "Refuse to be a Victim" course? I would welcome some sort of self defense program that didn't involve:
a) methods for anyone to stop any attacker in SECONDS, no matter HOW outmatched you are! (I do NOT kid. And that wasn't half the hyperbole. No, I didn't take the class.)
b) ignoring violent self defense as an option.

You could post one of Oleg's posters around campus (with his OK of course!), with a good female-oriented self defense URL, or a list of places to get GOOD self defense training. (Shooting ranges count! ) Cornered Cat, A Human Right, there have to be others.

 

[10-Ring]

A Taser & a can of red laquer spray paint can go a long way. I have learned that if you don't want to carry a weapon, the red laquer paint to the face works very well. Assailant is freaked out when they wipe their face and they see red. Also, the taser is effective & non-lethal

 

[GlowinPontiac]

if they don't allow mace a can of raid hornet spray that has the 25ft jet spray would work rather well. that stuff is nasty if you inhale the fumes and has a rather distinct odor to it.

might be too large to carry around but would work well on the nightstand.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Go to your friendly neighborhood antigue shop and get a good old-fashion straight razor. Keep it hidden but easy to get to. Opened backward with the blunt side of the blade against the knuckles (or a little lower) is easily unnoticed, easy to get into position and easy to use.

I was advised to use a horizontal slice in the area just below the rib cage but above the pelvis. Said advisor's theory was the rapist having to try and stuff his intestines back in place tends to make him forget his power trip. Don't try for the privates as the agresor will instinctively protect them. Don't try for the throat or face as the cartilage of the throat could break the blade.

The moral is never ask self defense advice from guys that used to jump out of airplanes if you have a weak stomach.

Selena

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Straight Razor? NOPE! With the quality & selection of applicable folding & fixed-blade knives available today, why pick a fragile antique requiring substantial experience to use effectively? It's like suggesting a cap-and-ball revolver. Yes, it's deadly but...certainly out-dated technology.

 

[bogie]

What to do?

This is a university that needs to have a bunch of Oleg's images put up on bulletin boards around the campus...

So...

Spend a coupla bucks on a cartridge refill for your inkjet, and then make a buncha photocopies... Carry a small bookbag if you're going through the area. If you see a bulletin board with stuff on it, add an Oleg...

Educate.

 

[jcoiii]

story from my jujitsu instructor back in college:

One of his students was assaulted while walking back to her dorm one night. Instead of fighting, she kept her wits and talked the guy into believing that she was ok with this and he could relax and they could "party." After he removed his pants, she withdrew her blade and performed a rough vasectomy. Poor guy bled out before paramedics could arrive....

 

[ilbob]

The assailant was reportedly wearing a black ski mask, a dark sweater with a full-length zipper down the front with a lighter color along the zipper, and dark pants tucked into calf-length military-type boots. He was also wearing gloves. He was reported to be of average height and weight.

Anyone else notice something notably lacking from this physical description?

 

[jefnvk]

My experience with college girls? Not much.

It is very true that many view anyone keeping a defensive weapon around as paranoid. Hopefully, some good will come out of this, and the women at this college will realize that bad thigns happpen to those that aren't paranoid, too.

 

[atblis]

Yeah

Skin color. Noticed that too.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

The victim ought to sue the college on the basis that since she was not allowed to provide for her own defense by college policy, the college had a responsibility to protect her and in that they failed. Therefore they should be held responsible.

 

[ilbob]

The victim ought to sue the college on the basis that since she was not allowed to provide for her own defense by college policy, the college had a responsibility to protect her and in that they failed. Therefore they should be held responsible.

This college is a government entity. As such, the courts have consistently ruled there is no requirement to provide for the safety of those in their care.

Ironically, you might well have a case against a private college.

 

[35Rem]

Knives are good and all that...but...they require a lot of training. They are not an instant incapacitation weapon and can be used against you if you can't retain it.

Not a lot of good options in this case. Move out and provide your own means of protection, off campus. That's me, and not always an option.
Pepper and other sprays may be better, but aren't perfect either.

 

[ilcylic]

Anyone else notice something notably lacking from this physical description?

Skin color. Noticed that too.

Uh, the guy was wearing a ski mask, gloves, and a sweater. At 0300 it may well have been dark. It's entirely possible that skin color is actually unknown, and this isn't just another part of the vast conspiracy of political correctness.

 

[ilbob]

It's entirely possible that skin color is actually unknown, and this isn't just another part of the vast conspiracy of political correctness.

I suppose it is possible. One would think that the description would note that though.

 

[Oleg Volk]

You could post one of Oleg's posters around campus (with his OK of course!)

Go right ahead!