Sexual assault panel: The Real Truth

Last week, the University of West Georgia’s community was rattled when a young woman was sexually assaulted while walking on campus. News of the incident caused much concern, and several organizations made an effort to ease the minds of the students.

On March 4, C.A.P.E., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Carroll Rape Crisis Center, presented the panel discussion, “Sexual Assault Alert: The Real Truth,” in the Bonner Lecture Hall.

Omega Psi Phi fraternity members celebrated “Omega Week” last week, with daily activities for students. The fraternity initially scheduled the panel discussion about sexual assault before the recent attack on campus, but it became more urgent and important to do so after it occurred.

The program began promptly with the panel addressing the audience and students stating their concerns. The panel consisted of Miss Rome Georgia Briana Jewett, UWG health educator Debra Dugan, Holly Presnal from the Carroll Rape Crisis Center, Collyn Ramsey from P.A.W.S. and Walter Swanson, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity president.

The discussion centered on the awareness of what Presnal called a “crime that knows no boundaries.”

Rape and sexual assault are common. According to the Carroll Rape Crisis Center, more than 50 percent of all rapes and sexual assault incidents that are reported by victims occurred within only one mile of their home. With this statistic, it is even more critical to be aware of how often and how suddenly an attack may happen.

One by one, audience members began asking questions and sharing their stories. For some, they were stories that would not have been shared otherwise.

“What can I do if I know someone that has been raped and doesn’t want to report it?” a student asked.

“The best thing you can do is provide support, and encourage that person to receive some type of help,” said Dugan.

“It’s never too late to get help,” Presnal added.

Students voiced issues about campus safety and the university police. Concerns ranged from the need to be escorted to their cars while alone at night to the emergency police poles located throughout campus.

Lieutenant Ned Watson of the UWG Police department said that only six percent of rapists ever spend time in jail.

“Sexual assaults are underreported,” said Watson.

However, he stated that there may have been a number of people that witnessed the recent incident on campus, and encouraged anyone with any information to step forward.

“Don’t sit back and watch things happen,” said Ramsey. “If you see something going on, and you don’t report it, you’re just as bad as the perpetrator.”

Watson also encouraged female students to take part in the R.A.D. program, which teaches women self defense and how to handle themselves in an emergency situation.

For more information, or if one is a victim of a sexual assault or know someone who is, call the UWG police at 678-839-6000, or contact the Carroll Rape Crisis center for free and confidential assistance at 770-834-7273.