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57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 2, 2004 Sexual assaults worry SOU officials By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Alarmed by 10 reports of sexual assaults since the middle of April, officials at Southern Oregon University suspect that many of them could have involved the use of so-called date-rape drugs. "In these cases, many of the rapes appear to be drug induced," said Diane Brimmer, vice president for student affairs. "It’s an awful thing, but it’s really important to prevent any further incidents." Many of the sexual assaults have occurred off campus during parties, prompting the university to issue safety alerts, send e-mail warnings, post fliers and to schedule a presentation at 6 tonight titled, "Safeguarding Yourself Against Sexual Assault." SOU security director Joey Ngan said these are the first reported instances in which date-rape drugs may have been used in sexual assaults on students, and he is worried that they could become more widely used in the county. "This is the first time we are suspecting it in our community," he said. "What makes it worse is that people are not reporting it." Advertisement The victims, aged 18-21, are reluctant to prosecute because some have been engaged in an illegal activity — drinking, Ngan said. And because of this reluctance, the university has had difficulty confirming that drugs were used to commit rape. "There is a certain amount of guilt and the burden and fear of reporting their sexual assaults," said Ngan. There are at least three drugs — GHB (gamma-hydroxy butyrate), Rohypnol and Ketamine — that have been known to be used in rapes nationally. The drugs place victims in a trance-like state or render them immobile or unconscious. When they wake up, they often have difficulty remembering what happened the night before. Susan Moen, a member of the Jackson County Sexual Assault Response Team, said sexual assault is an issue that affects the county and nation as a whole. In Jackson County last year, 260 sexual assaults were reported, but Oregon in general reports only one in 10 cases, compared to the national average of almost one in three. Citing federal statistics, Moen said about 45 rapes are committed each hour against adults. Last year, 302,100 women were sexually assaulted nationally, as well as 92,700 men. Men tend to report sexual assaults far less often than women, said Moen. Rape victims are often reluctant to follow through with prosecution because they think they won’t be believed, or they find it emotionally traumatizing to be examined, questioned and subjected to intense scrutiny. More than anything else, said Moen, "they have an overwhelming feeling of guilt that somehow they are responsible for it." During trials, victims’ sexual histories are called into question, while at the same time they have to deal with the impacts to their families. "Rape has a huge emotional component to it — not just to the victim but the people around them," said Moen. The victim’s relationship with family or a spouse also can be affected, she said. Moen objects to the use of the words "date rape" because it lessens the gravity of the crime. "Many woman say, ‘I don’t have friends like that,’" said Moen. "‘Nobody I know would do that to me.’" She thinks the recent rapes have come to light at SOU because it is a close-knit campus that already has programs in place to educate students about sexual awareness. Stephen Brown, a detective with the Ashland Police Department, said drug-facilitated sexual assaults usually aren’t confirmed because of the difficulty in collecting evidence. He said he hasn’t received any documented evidence of such a case in the past few years. However, he said a rape victim who has been given drugs is often in a mental fog the next day. "Afterwards they think maybe something happened, but they are not sure," he said. "It all goes into the fact that they don’t immediately report." If victims take too long, the drug has often left their system, making it impossible to detect. Victims are sometimes reluctant to prosecute because it can be a two-year process to go through the court system. "It’s a very personal crime," said Brown. "Each person reacts differently. If I were a victim of a crime, I would want the person prosecuted." Brimmer is worried that partying will intensify as graduation nears. "The end of the year is a time for parties, and it is a time for people to be more aware," said Brimmer. Tips to avoid becoming a victim of rape The following are tips recommended by Southern Oregon University officials and Ashland police to help students avoid becoming a victim of rape when attending parties: Avoid alcohol or drugs, especially if you are underage. Be aware of signs that you might have been drugged: You feel more intoxicated than seems reasonable; you suffer from symptoms such as tunnel vision, blacking out, extreme dizziness, numbness or increased touch sensitivity; you experience any feeling that seems out of the ordinary or is overly intensified. Keep your drink in a sports-type bottle with a screw-on lid. Keep your drink with you at all times. Make your own drink and never drink out of a communal bowl. Go to parties with a friend and agree to keep an eye on each other. Try to leave parties with the same friends you came with. If someone offers to walk you home, be wary, particularly if you are intoxicated or feeling disoriented. If you think you’ve been a victim of a rape, go immediately to an emergency room or call for medical advice. This does not mean that you are committed to prosecuting anyone, but it will help in gathering evidence. How to get help Southern Oregon University is holding a free informational session on "Safeguarding Yourself Against Sexual Assault" at 6 tonight on campus. For location, call 552-6216. Those who suspect or know they have been a victim of rape may call the following for help: Ashland Community Hospital, 482-2441. HelpLine crisis hotline, 779-HELP (callers will be referred to Rape Crisis workers). Providence Medford Medical Center, 732-5059. Rogue Valley Medical Center, 608-4144. SOU Women’s Resource Center, 552-6216. SOU Health Center, 552-6136. Jackson County Mental Health Services, 776-7355. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers