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| Rape kits still issue for student
groups, senate, administration |
David Forbes
SGA Beat
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Next semester could
see legislation by the Student Government Association (SGA) and
action by student groups to pressure the administration to provide
rape kits at Appalachian State University.
At the Nov. 19 SGA meeting, many senators mentioned rape kits in
the debate over a fee increase as something they felt should be
a higher priority.
The kits, which cost roughly $300, are an organized way for medical
professionals to gather evidence of a sexual assault.
“Getting rape kits offered on campus has always been one of
the many recommendations that we think could help with the rape
situation on this campus and let us be used as a model for other
campuses,” Student Body President Ryan M. Eller said Tuesday.
“I think dealing with rape has to be one of our highest priorities,
since it’s been pushed under the rug for so long.”
Eller said he has encouraged senators to research possible legislation
on rape kits for the spring semester.
Both SGA and the Faculty Senate have passed legislation in favor
of the university providing rape kits. The administration, however,
never received the SGA legislation.
“We received no legislation regarding this issue from SGA,
and so we haven’t responded to any,” Dr. Gregory S. Blimling,
vice chancellor for Student Development said Tuesday. “Rape
kits are primarily a criminal investigative procedure. Providing
a rape kit on campus does nothing to prevent rape, nor does it do
anything to help the quantity of rapes, and we think that’s
where the attention needs to be.”
Eller said former president Alexander Harrington informed him legislation
had been forwarded to the administration.
“It’s basically an issue of priorities and I think that’s
why a lot of students are angry about this,” Dr. Eva M. Hyatt,
an associate professor in the department of management and faculty
advisor of the campus chapter of the National Organization for Women
(NOW) said Monday. “By having kits on campus it’s a show
of good faith on the university’s part that they’re trying
to do something about this drastic problem of sexual assault. It’s
always been something the university would rather stick its head
in the sand over.”
Hyatt said NOW plans to take action on the issue next semester.
“I think there’s a lot of misinformation out there; rape
kits are covered by student insurance and most health insurance
programs,” Blimling said. “At no time has any student
requested that the university administer a rape kit rather than
Watauga [Medical Center]. The location’s just not been an issue.”
Blimling said even if the university did administer rape kits, it
would not be able to administer them for any rape that happened
off campus.
“A lot of people say ‘they have [the kits] at Watauga
[Medical Center],’ but they could say that about any health
issue,” Hyatt said. “Rape is a problem here at Appalachian;
the student infirmary is supposed to respond to student needs in
particular. It strikes me that having certified personnel would
be a good move on the university’s part. I know the police
are constantly getting new training, so why should health workers
be any different?” |
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