Thursday, November 13, 1997
Panel educates students on danger, reality of date rape
FORUM:
UCLA’s Peer Educator Program organizes discussion to point out
therapy, campus resourcesBy Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Contributor
One in four women will be a victim of date rape in their
lifetime, according to the Women’s Resource Center.
Taking its cue from these statistics, the UCLA Peer Educator
Program organized a date rape panel discussion  aptly titled
"One in Four" Â Tuesday night at Sunset Commons.
"Date rape is not a topic our parents prepare us for," said Rape
Prevention Peer Education Coordinator Robin McDonald.
The discussion provided information from a wide variety of
perspectives. Panelists included Tami Overhauser, a date rape
survivor; Dr. Tracy Shaw, a therapist from the Student
Psychological Services (SPS); Kathleen McMahon, assistant dean of
students; and Abby Sims, from the Los Angeles Commission on
Assaults Against Women (LACAAN).
The almost exclusively female audience got the chance to hear
the firsthand experiences of a date rape survivor  not only
about the traumatic event itself, but also how she was able to turn
her life around and cope with what happened.
"It overtook me and affected every single area of my life,"
Overhauser said.
Overhauser explained her healing process, which began with a
decision to seek help, continued by drawing strength from religion
and, finally, going on to educate herself and others about
date-rape prevention.
The goal of the panel was, among other things, to educate
students about date rape, show the reality of the problem and point
out therapy and campus resources, said peer educator Gaby Hurtadu,
a third-year sociology student.
A traumatic event such as date rape could take months, or even
years, to heal, according to speakers. All of the panelists
emphasized the importance of seeking help, even if it seems too
late.
"Mostly, people come to the office two to three weeks after the
event. At times, it can be months," said Shaw of SPS.
Shaw also described typical reactions  both psychological
and physical  to the traumatic event. These include, but are
not limited to, detachment, mood swings ranging from sadness to
agitation, a feeling of numbness as a way of shielding oneself,
anger, sleeping difficulties and changes in appetite.
In a college setting, these problems can lead to an inability to
concentrate on schoolwork and a decline in academic performance,
she continued.
The legal perspective on date rape came from McMahon, who
offered a detailed explanation of UCLA’s student-conduct policies
and the university’s procedure on dealing with date rape and sexual
assault.
McMahon also emphasized a clause to the California Penal Code
dealing with intoxication during date rape.
"Alcohol is never an excuse," she said. "If you had sex with
someone who was incapable of giving consent, you could be charged
with sexual assault."
McMahon said the perpetrator’s intoxication was irrelevant
 they are still responsible for their actions.
Seeking help after date rape happens can be an extremely
difficult thing to do, according to all of the panelists.
Friends can be very helpful in lending a listening ear or a
shoulder to cry on, Shaw said. They can also encourage the victim
to seek help, make an appointment at SPS or attend a counseling
session.
"Oftentimes, healing doesn’t start until the individual seeks
help," Overhauser said.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of date rape,
notify the university police department. Support services are
available at the Women’s Resource Center at 206-8240, the LACAAN’s
24-hour hotline at 392-8381 or the Santa Monica Hospital Rape
Treatment Center at 319-4000.