Harvard's Date Rape Policy Under Attack

Students faced Associate Dean of Co-Education Karen E. Avery '87 to discuss what many perceive as the lack of public information about Harvard's policy on rape and punishment at a panel discussion last night.

In light of recent coverage of sexual assault and rape issues at Harvard, the Harvard Political Union and the Women's Leadership Project sponsored the panel on "Date Rape: Defining Student Behavior and University Policy."

Avery, Alexis B. Karteron '01 of the Coalition Against Sexual Violence (CASV) and Abigail H. Zoba '00, a counselor with Peer Relations and Date Rape Education (PRDRE) spoke to a crowd of about 30 people, including Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, about the current state of Harvard's policy on rape.

In Zoba's opening statement, she discussed the issues PRDRE covers in workshops with first-years and clarified the difference between the state policy on rape and Harvard regulations.

"Harvard's policy is much more strict," said Zoba, who is also a Crimson photo editor.

"People who are drunk or high are by definition unable to give consent to sex," she said.

Avery said Harvard takes rape very seriously.

"Rape often goes unreported. It's hard for us when we don't know what's out there," she said.

When a student is raped, Avery said, the College encourages the student to go to University Health Service (UHS) or Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

At Beth Israel, specialists can per- form rape kits, which allow medical personnelto collect evidence of the rape that can then beused in a trial, whereas UHS does not provide thisservice due to their small incidence of reportedrape cases.

"It's very important to get that counselingsupport, to have someone," Avery said.

She said one of Harvard's biggest efforts interms of rape education is its "Tell Someone"brochure.

"I know a lot of these things end up inrecycling bins, but it's important that we letthem know what's out there," Avery said. "It'sclear people need to know more about resources."

Karteron outlined the goals of the CoalitionAgainst Sexual Violence, which was formed lastFebruary. She said the group aims to increasediscussion of sexual assault on campus, to findHarvard-specific rape statistics and to create awomen's center.

"It's something that would show the Universityis committed to bringing together resources,"Karteron said. "It would address the needs ofwomen in general."

Avery said the College has been considering theissue of creating a women's center.

"The coalition is looking for a safe place.That's a different need than even a women's centercould provide," she said.

Both student organizations called for increasedcommunication between students and counselors.

Zoba said she thinks PRDRE's workshops shouldbe mandatory for all first-years rather thanlimited to proctor groups that have expressedinterest.

Although the Safe Community lecture first-yearstudents receive Freshman Week is admirable,Karteron said, smaller group workshops would bemore effective in getting through to students.

Karteron and Zoba also stressed the importanceof talking to students early in their first-yearbecause a majority of rape occurs in the first fewmonths of school.

Zoba described PRDRE's broadened activities oncampus, which have involved speaking to first-yearproctor groups to increase awareness, and havegrown to encompass the athletic teams,fraternities and sororities on campus.

"People grew a lot more aware after the twoincidents last year. I think awareness is thewhole purpose of why I'm here today," Zoba said.

Many of the audience's questions focused on therecent news that two Harvard students convicted ofsexual offenses, Joshua M. Elster and D. DrewDouglas, both of the Class of 2000, were notexpelled.

Avery said Harvard only exercises the expulsionpolicy for students who falsify their applicationcredentials. Both accused students received thepenalty of dismissal, the punishment used forcriminal action.

Students in the audience said they believethere is a deficiency of knowledge on campus interms of what to do in cases of rape. Sexualassault and harassment residential advising is anarea many said is in need of improvement.

Some said they left last night's panel unawareof anything new on the issue.

"[Avery] seemed to avoid questions. I think shedid what I expected her to do," said Ethan D.S.Ard '00, managing editor of Perspective, whichrecently initiated campus discussion of rape.

Other students said they learned more about theissue of date rape from the panel discussion.

"I was curious because I had read lots ofthings. I wanted to hear what people had to sayabout it," Erin B. Ashwell '02 said.

"The administration showed it was interested intalking with students. It seemed they had a goodworking relationship," she said.

Karteron said the panel was a good step forpromoting campus rape discussion.

"It was a good way to start a dialogue oncampus. I was glad Dean Avery was able toparticipate and field those questions," she said

"It's very important to get that counselingsupport, to have someone," Avery said.

She said one of Harvard's biggest efforts interms of rape education is its "Tell Someone"brochure.

"I know a lot of these things end up inrecycling bins, but it's important that we letthem know what's out there," Avery said. "It'sclear people need to know more about resources."

Karteron outlined the goals of the CoalitionAgainst Sexual Violence, which was formed lastFebruary. She said the group aims to increasediscussion of sexual assault on campus, to findHarvard-specific rape statistics and to create awomen's center.

"It's something that would show the Universityis committed to bringing together resources,"Karteron said. "It would address the needs ofwomen in general."

Avery said the College has been considering theissue of creating a women's center.

"The coalition is looking for a safe place.That's a different need than even a women's centercould provide," she said.

Both student organizations called for increasedcommunication between students and counselors.

Zoba said she thinks PRDRE's workshops shouldbe mandatory for all first-years rather thanlimited to proctor groups that have expressedinterest.

Although the Safe Community lecture first-yearstudents receive Freshman Week is admirable,Karteron said, smaller group workshops would bemore effective in getting through to students.

Karteron and Zoba also stressed the importanceof talking to students early in their first-yearbecause a majority of rape occurs in the first fewmonths of school.

Zoba described PRDRE's broadened activities oncampus, which have involved speaking to first-yearproctor groups to increase awareness, and havegrown to encompass the athletic teams,fraternities and sororities on campus.

"People grew a lot more aware after the twoincidents last year. I think awareness is thewhole purpose of why I'm here today," Zoba said.

Many of the audience's questions focused on therecent news that two Harvard students convicted ofsexual offenses, Joshua M. Elster and D. DrewDouglas, both of the Class of 2000, were notexpelled.

Avery said Harvard only exercises the expulsionpolicy for students who falsify their applicationcredentials. Both accused students received thepenalty of dismissal, the punishment used forcriminal action.

Students in the audience said they believethere is a deficiency of knowledge on campus interms of what to do in cases of rape. Sexualassault and harassment residential advising is anarea many said is in need of improvement.

Some said they left last night's panel unawareof anything new on the issue.

"[Avery] seemed to avoid questions. I think shedid what I expected her to do," said Ethan D.S.Ard '00, managing editor of Perspective, whichrecently initiated campus discussion of rape.

Other students said they learned more about theissue of date rape from the panel discussion.

"I was curious because I had read lots ofthings. I wanted to hear what people had to sayabout it," Erin B. Ashwell '02 said.

"The administration showed it was interested intalking with students. It seemed they had a goodworking relationship," she said.

Karteron said the panel was a good step forpromoting campus rape discussion.

"It was a good way to start a dialogue oncampus. I was glad Dean Avery was able toparticipate and field those questions," she said