Friday

March 20, 1998

Suspect sought in alleged dorm rape

Authorities are seeking an 18-year-old man suspected of raping a CSUS student on campus last Friday, according to University Police Det. John Hamrick.

The rape occurred in the early morning hours of March 13 in Jenkins Hall, Hamrick said. The victim reported the incident March 15.

"Right after she came forward, we met her at UC Davis Medical Center for an evidence examination," Hamrick said. "There was some physical evidence collected at the hospital."

Campus police on Wednesday turned the case over to the district attorney's sexual assault unit with a recommendation that a warrant be issued for the suspect's arrest, Hamrick said.

Jeff Rose, a Sacramento County district attorney assigned to the case, could not be reached for comment at press time.

The suspect is not a CSUS student and is not from the Sacramento area. He was visiting a friend who lives in the residence halls, Hamrick said.

The suspect and his friend met up with a couple of other people -- including the victim -- in a dorm room. Between 1:30 and 2 a.m., most of the people left the room, at which point the suspect allegedly forced the victim to have sex with him, Hamrick said.

Another person, sleeping in the room at the time of the incident, gave a statement to police, Hamrick added.

Cynthia Cockrill, director of Housing and Residential Life, said when a rape occurs, all of her staff members make themselves available to the victim. She added that her office deals with several allegations of rape every year.

Rape-prevention programs on campus include education on sexual assault, alcohol awareness, substance abuse, making wise choices and communicating clearly.

"Ninety-nine-point-five percent of the rapes that occur in the dorms are acquaintance rapes," Cockrill said. "There has only been one stranger rape in the 11 years I have been director that I am aware of, and that had to be 10 years ago."

Playing it Safe:

• You have the right to set sexual limits and to defend yourself if they are not respected.
• If you feel you're being pressured into unwanted sex, or if you are not feeling comfortable, trust those feelings and know you are reading the situation correctly.
• Learn to make responsible decisions about whether to drink or use drugs. If you are going to be alone with someone you do not know well, be aware you may not be able to think clearly when under the influence of substances. Be aware of your partner's intoxication level as well.
• Take a course in self-defense and/or assertiveness training.

Information provided by CSUS Health Center

Teachers who date students take risks

Dating a professor at CSUS can have serious consqeuences for both the student and the teacher.

CSUS "absolutely prohibits" professors from dating their students, said David Wagner, dean of faculty and staff affairs.

He said the policy applies as well to student assistants working on-campus who date their supervisors.

Wagner said CSUS has a range of responses at its disposal when considering punishment for romantic supervisor-subordinate relationships, depending on the circumstances.

"This may range all the way from verbal counseling ... to suspension, demotion or termination," he said. "There's a pretty broad range."

With this policy in place, CSUS' Faculty Senate chair said there are reasons why the university is so strict.

"There's a power relationship there," said chair Thomas Krabacher. "The concern is about sexual coercion ... and it's about objectivity in grading when the student is working under that professor."

Even if professors do not have their lovers in their classes, it still may look bad.

"There may be an appearance of something improper," said Krabacher.

Additionally, harassment may be found when the conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, offensive environment or otherwise adversely affects any student.

With verbal counseling, no records are kept, said Peter Lau, CSUS director of affirmative action and equal opportunity.

The most serious cases -- in which a complaint of sexual harassment has been brought and found to have some merit -- can warrant outside investigators hired by CSUS asking questions of both parties, Wagner said.

"We try to bring in someone neutral who doesn't favor either party," Wagner explained.

However, some cases "can be reviewed quickly," according to Wagner.

There are only two to three complaints -- either brought by other students in the class or by the student involved -- each school year, Wagner said.

Lau agreed, saying, "It is extremely rare."

Even rarer, according to Wagner, is a harassment complaint being brought by a professor or supervisor against a student.

"I can only remember one case," Wagner said.

However, because CSUS students range so widely in age, it is more likely at CSUS for a student to sexually harass a professor than at a private, liberal arts college, where students are 18 to 21 years old, Wagner said.

The punishment for students who harass is also wide-ranging, from verbal counseling up to dismissal from the university.

Lau said most often it is the female teaching assistants who are harassed by male students. Female professors are also targets, Lau continued.

But because students are not in a position of power over professors, this would not happen that often, according to Wagner.

"It would have to be pretty pervasive," he said.

The more common complaint against a student would be for "creating a hostile environment" for the supervisor or professor.

All complaints against students would be handled by Vice President for Student Affairs Shirley Uplinger.

No matter who is involved, the most frequent complaints are brought by classmates, who claim unfair grading and favoritism, said Wagner.

However, just because a student is dating a professor and receiving special treatment, it does not mean others are being graded unfairly, Wagner said.

Regardless of how much students whisper to each other about the relationship or how much professors and supervisors mumble, CSUS must still find out about it somehow if no complaints are brought and the couple is happy.

"We don't go looking for it," said Wagner. "But if we happened to find out ... we would do an investigation."

Lau said that if the university heard about an apparently problem-free student-professor relationship, the response would not go beyond informal counseling.

CSUS' hands are somewhat tied because professors are not children -- and neither are the students.

"Legally, it's very hard to restrict the actions of adults," Lau said.

And Wagner conceded, "All you can do is hope if people know about the policy, they'll change their behavior."

Speaker warns of 'backlash' against feminism

Because of its growing influence, feminism is experiencing severe backlashes from Christian fundamentalist groups, foreign militia groups and the media, the president of the Feminist Majority Foundation said Tuesday.

"There's a backlash against the progress of women because we are threatening those who would like to keep the old order," said Eleanor Smeal, former president of the National Organization for Women.

Smeal's speech, "A Report from the Frontlines," was sponsored by the CSUS Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the Women's Studies Student Association. The audience of about 200 people in the University Union's Redwood Room was nearly 90 percent female.

Christian fundamentalist groups terrorize women's health centers with bombs and shootings, Smeal said. The Feminist Majority Foundation is working on the National Clinic Access Project to ensure the safety of workers and patients at these clinics.

"We are determined the terrorists will not win and for every clinic they try to close we will make sure it stays open."

The foundation has also undertaken the project of ending gender apartheid in Afghanistan. In September 1996 an Islamic militia group, the Taliban, overthrew the Afghanistan government and declared an end to women's basic human rights in work, education, health care and safety. The Taliban controls 80 percent of the country.

Last Wednesday, at a White House press conference for Women's International Day, President Bill Clinton announced the United States will not recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government until women's human rights are restored, she noted.

This announcement came on the heels of mounting pressure from feminists under the direction of the foundation, according to Smeal.

"And people ask me why we need a feminist movement today. Cut me a break," she said.

She added that the feminist movment, which has experienced tremendous growth in the last 30 years, has been dealt a set back by the media's lack of coverage on feminist issues.

"The press keeps trying to say feminism is a thing of the past and that we are now in a post-feminism generation," she said. "The media continue to marginalize our progress ... saying the active feminists want war between the sexes."

Not even a lethal bombing of a women's health clinic or a shooting of its workers or patients draws more than a couple days' worth of news from the media, Smeal said. "God knows, this couldn't be (in) headlines or important, because it's only happening to women," she said.

The foundation counters these backlash efforts, Smeal said, by giving women -- the majority of the United States population -- access to power.

"Yes, we are the majority but we are disenfranchised. The Feminist Majority Foundation is meant to empower those of us who have been excluded for so long." According to a Gallup and Harris poll, two-thirds of 18- to 24-year-old women support feminism, Smeal said.

Because this is the average age of college students, the foundation is creating the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance on 30 college campuses nationwide, Smeal said.

The alliances will organize around feminist issues of individual campus interest and work together on a nationwide campus campaign. This year's campaign is "Choices."

The campaign addresses reproductive, career and leadership choices for women.

The CSUS alliance is holding informational meetings at 3 p.m. on March 26 in the Del Rio Room of the River Front Center; noon on March 30 in the University Union's Board Chambers; and at 6:30 p.m. on April 2 in the University Union's Delta Suite.

Smeal urged professors and students to join the CSUS alliance.

Volunteers warm up for Community Service Day

Students, faculty and staff are invited to get down and dirty for a good cause as the Associated Students Inc. sponsors its first-ever Community Service Day on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers will be performing such tasks as helping with taxes, interpreting, building fences, indoor and outdoor clean-up, eradicating non-native plants, painting, and working on a multicultural library.

"We wanted to help the campus get involved with the Sacramento community," said Sarah Dillingham, coordinator of Community Service Day at CSUS.

The community service will take place at the Asian Resource Center, Habitat for Humanity, McClatchy High School, Sacramento County, San Juan School District, YWCA and the CSUS Community Gardens.

Numerous student organizations and athletic teams, as well as individuals, have already signed up to work on Community Service Day.

Tiffany Francis, a YWCA representative, said student volunteers will be refurbishing about seven residence rooms -- undertaking such tasks as filling holes in walls, shampooing carpets and painting.

"We are trying to get volunteers right now. We don't have a volunteer pool," said Francis, who hopes community service day will expose the YWCA's need to students.

According to Mae Chu, who works for the Asian Resource Center, the group still needs Vietnamese and Russian interpreters to provide tax assistance to low-income clients.

"We are expecting about 500 people and with any luck this should be a great day," said Dillingham.

The volunteer work will not go without reward. Helping hands will receive free T-shirts and be invited to a free catered barbecue in the main quad by the Pub at CSUS following the event.

According to ASI, Community Service Day demonstrates a growing interest in community service among students at CSUS.

"There are approximately 15 service-based organizations on campus, excluding fraternities and sororities, that also do service," said a representative of the Student Activities office. "But there is no official count to go by as far as how many groups do service."

Based on sign-ups, volunteers will be broken up into seven groups.

Those interested must sign up for the event by today to participate. For more information, contact Dillingham by phone at 278-6784 or e-mail her at sac13133@saclink.csus.edu.

Police Log

Monday, March 9
DISTURBING THE PEACE: Several dorm residents were throwing beer cans out the third-floor window of Desmond Hall. Officers told them to stop and pick up the cans.
BURGLARY: A locker was broken into over the weekend on the first floor of the Biology Building. A chemistry set, lab coat and study materials were taken, valued at $47.
BURGLARY: An Apple computer was stolen out of the conference room of the Psychology Building, valued at $1,750.
BURGLARY: A locker near room 107 of the Art Building was broken into. Supplies valued at $162, including an art case and pencils were taken.
PETTY THEFT: A locker was broken into in the men's locker room of the Physical Education Building.
RECKLESS DRIVING: Two young men were doing doughnuts in a black BMW in the residence hall parking lot. They were last seen eastbound on State University Drive, leaving campus.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: A man was seen in a verbal altercation with a woman holding a baby in Lot A/B. An officer evaluated the situation to be OK.

Tuesday, March 10
PARKING ENFORCEMENT: A Jeep on the third floor of the parking garage was stalled, blocking traffic. The vehicle was towed.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE: A man was talking to himself incoherently on the second floor of the Social Science Building. Police did not find the man.
VANDALISM: Desks in various locations of the Physical Education Building and Douglas Hall were covered with advertisements.
GRAND THEFT: Various vending machines located in the Music and Science buildings were burglarized and cash was taken in the amount of $1,366.40.
MISSING PERSON: A 14-year-old was overdue after being sent to the University Union for food. She was located shortly thereafter.

Wednesday, March 11
NOISE COMPLAINT: Four men were on the levee making noise. The area checked out OK.
BURGLARY: A 1998 blue Dodge Ram in Lot 8 was broken into. A windbreaker and day planner valued at $105 were taken. The point of entry was unknown.
ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLE: A car with a handicap plate was illiegally parked in a handicap space in Lot 4 near Temporary Building AA.
INJURED PERSON: A woman collapsed and was unresponsive on the second floor of the Engineering/Computer Science Building. An ambulance was called but cancelled after the woman was able to stand up and walk.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: A student in the English Building was involved in a verbal altercation with his professor and would not leave his office. The student had an appointment to discuss the Writing Proficiency Exam. The professor asked him to leave after continually interrupting him. When the student refused to leave, the professor called police to advise the student.
HIT AND RUN: Minor rear damage was done to a 1991 Mercury Sable after a 1988 Chevy Blazer hit the parked vehicle due to inattention during a parking maneuver on the second floor of the parking garage.
RECKLESS DRIVING: A dune buggy between the old and new Engineering/Computer Science Buildings was doing doughnuts in the area. When officers arrived the vehicle was gone.
GRAND THEFT: A man left his wallet in a jacket near the soccer field. When he returned the wallet was missing. Contents included miscellaneous IDs, credit cards and $360 in cash.

Thursday, March 12
NON-INJURY ACCIDENT: Two cars collided in front of the bus stop on State University Drive. There was only minor damage to one of the vehicles.
NON-INJURY ACCIDENT: A 1988 Toyota Corolla and 1980 Pontiac Century collided in front of Sacramento Hall on State University Drive. The parties exchanged insurance information.
AUTO BURGLARY: The side door of a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass was lock punched and a Motorola cellular phone valued at $450 was taken.
AUTO BURGLARY: An AM/FM stereo was taken from a car in Lot 10.

Friday, March 13
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE: Ten to 15 people were hanging around in Lot 1. They went toward the train tracks to throw rocks. They checked out to be dorm residents and were advised to go in for the night.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE: Firecrackers were being set off near the dorms. No one could be identified as setting off the firecrackers.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: Reports of yelling and more fireworks going off near the dorms. The area checked out OK.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE: A man in his late 30s was loitering in the parking garage. He was transported to the Sacramento Mental Health Department voluntarily.
HAZARD: A big rig was disabled in front of the University Union.
PETTY THEFT: A wallet was taken from room 201 of the Science Building. The wallet contained a driver's license, credit cards and $12 in cash. It was either lost or stolen out of a woman's bag.
INCIDENT: A car was blocking traffic on Esplanade exiting campus. A tow truck was called.
ACCIDENTAL INJURY: A dorm resident broke his arm while playing sports. He refused any assistance. His friend was going to transport him to the hospital.
CITIZEN'S ASSIST: A jacket was locked in Information Booth 2.

Corrections

• An article in the March 10 Hornet incorrectly stated CSUS Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jolene Koester has control over $2 million in state Lottery funds. She has control of just over $1 million; the rest is earmarked by the CSU chancellor's office.
• An article in the March 13 issue incorrectly states the parking garage was opened in 1991. It was opened in 1992.
• A guest opinion column in the March 13 issue misidentified its writer's school. The article originally appeared in the Pennsylvania State University Daily Collegian.