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Volume 128 Issue 13
Monday, September 15, 2014
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SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
New drink coasters can detect date rape drugs
MARISSA KAUFMANN
@MarissaUDK
The University's Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access has set out on an initiative to start educational conversations with students by creating drink coasters with instructions to detect date rape drugs.
By placing a drop of the liquid in question on the coaster, a person can tell if the liquid contains a drug if the coaster turns a darker-blue color. These coasters also include the contact information for IOA, the office that investigates sexual assault complaints.
The coasters provide a unique, interesting and accessible way of detecting a potential drug without being a major hassle to students, said Michael McRill, a graduate student who works at the Office of IOA.
The reasoning behind this
new coaster is a deterrence effect in an attempt to scare off individuals who might use date rape drugs, said Jane McQueeny, executive director of IOA.
"If they [potential sexual offenders] feel like the conditions are hostile towards them, they would be less inclined overall."
MICHAEL MCRILL
Graduate student
employee at IOA
Four men from North Carolina State University invented a clear nail polish that will change colors when it comes into contact with a date rape drug. A user will put on the nail polish, insert their nail into a drink and the nail polish is said to turn from clear to a darker color if the drink has been drugged.
A recently started company called "Undercover Colors" has also set out to make a difference in the number of occurring sexual assaults by instilling fear within the perpetrators, in an effort to help victims stop sexual assaults before the perpetrator
The nail polish company describes itself as "the first fashion company empowering women to prevent sexual assault." The nail polish is not currently on the market as the company is still raising funds to hire more people for research and development efforts. As Undercover Colors states on its Facebook page, its first product will change color when it encounters date rape drugs including Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB.
Chrissy Heikkila, executive director of GaDuGi SafeCenter
can act.
in Lawrence, disagrees that prevention should be put on the survivor of sexual assault or rape.
"As a general rule, our agency never puts prevention side on the survivor," Heikkila said. "We do not support the idea that women need to wear nail polish. We do not think rape can be prevented by wearing a certain nail polish or clothing."
Conversely, Robyn Herbert, a junior from Wichita, said this nail polish is a good invention to ensure women feel safe when going out.
Herbert said women feel threatened and she would use the nail polish because she is unsure of whom she can trust.
According to One in Four Inc., one in four college women will report a survival of or an attempted rape in their lifetime, and in 72-81 percent of cases the female is intoxicated.
Talking about sexual assault, having these conversations and providing support for victims are vital for implementing a cultural change and to serve as the best prevention tactics, Heikkila said.
McRill said the nail polish or coaster could serve as an external barrier or obstacle against someone who is trying to commit sexual violence or abuse.
"If they [potential sexual offenders] feel like the conditions are hostile towards them, they would be less inclined overall," McRill said.
Only time and further research can tell how effective the nail polish will be as the company proceeds through its early development stages and releases the product out to the market.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week events today:
Edited by Alex Lamb
Random Acts of Kindness:
Student Health Services will hand out teal ribbons and facts about sexual assault in Lot 90 as part of Random Acts of Kindness.
Speak On It Board in the Union: The board will give students the opportunity to ask questions about sexual assault. It is sponsored by Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity.
FOR MORE VISIT: ggo.gl/8P0bzM
Sigma Pi become chartered fraternity after 3-year process
BEN LIPOWIT7/KANSAN
The executive council of the newly chartered chapter of national fraternity Sigma Pi, from left to right: Jeff Ahle, Sean O'Neill, Kyle Charles, Andy McElroy, Taylor Ploss, and Adam Timmerman.
CHANDLER BLANTON
@chandlerblanton
Sigma Pi became a chartered fraternity during a ceremony Saturday after nearly three years of working toward becoming a recognized chapter.
Now that chartering is complete, the fraternity is recognized as a formal chapter, rather than as a colony, by the Sigma Pi International Executive Offices. Sigma Pi became the 23rd University of Kansas fraternity to be governed by Interfraternity Council.
There was a Sigma Pi chapter at the University before the Vietnam War, but when every member enlisted in the Army to fight in the war, the chapter was discontinued, said Andy McElroy, Sigma Pi president and a senior from Tulsa, Okla. The chapter is looking
"We had 50 members participate in the chartering, and we also have a new member pledge class of 25", McElroy said. "There was a 50-member requirement for us to even be considered to be chartered, so it's great that we've surpassed that and are up to 75 members now"
at this return to campus as a chance to recharge.
Each Sigma Pi member had to meet other requirements as well, such as passing a test about Sigma Pi history and completing four degrees to charter — scholarship, community service, philanthropy and brotherhood. Each degree has a specific requirement, and Sigma Pi was not considered for charter until each was met. For example, the scholarship degree required the chapter kept a GPA above the IFC average, which was 3.01 in spring
The members of Sigma Pi said they are excited about becoming an official chapter, but they understand the future is bright as well.
"KU Recycling was eventually taken over by the University, but it's pretty cool that we were able to start such a successful program," McElroy said.
During its time as a colony, Sigma Pi also was required to participate in an Altruistic Campus Experience project. Two years ago, it started KU Recycling, which is a recycling system for all KU fraternities and sororites.
"It's awesome to finally be able to say we're chartered," said Tyler Marshall, a junior from Santa Cruz, Calif. "This is just the beginning."
Now that the chapter is recognized, members of Sigma Pi said they are
especially looking forward to finding new members to add to the brotherhood.
"Being chartered is a big deal," McElroy said. "Now that we're officially recognized, we're going to focus on other things, such as bringing in larger, new member classes through continuous recruitment, and possibly securing a fraternity house in the future."
2014, according to the IFC website.
Sigma Pi is the first KU fraternity to be chartered since Alpha Tau Omega, which became a chapter in spring 2012 and is also currently unhoused.
"It's always great to see fraternities complete the process," said Dustin Struble, assistant director of Greek Life at the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. "Sigma Pi has done a great job."
Edited by Casey Hutchins
University to get sacred Torah scroll
BROOK BARNES /KANSAN
University rabbis and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life are receiving a specially scribed Torah for KJR's Jewish community. It is expected in December
Donations from the local Jewish community are funding the Torah's creation. People can pay based on letters on the scroll, which cost $36 each, and up to $9,200 for a silver crown.
The Chabad Center for Jewish Life celebrated the writing of a sacred Torah scroll on Sunday, among students, rabbis and observers of the Jewish community.
Senior Annabella Zighelboim from Eau Claire, Wis., said the Torah scroll offers a sense of security for the Jewish community.
A scribe was commissioned from Israel to create the KU Torah scroll. While normal scrolls can take six months to complete, the scribe plans to complete the scroll in about three months and come to the University in December with the completed work.
ALANA FLINN
@ajf_1212
"I, along with the KU and Lawrence Jewish community,
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OPINION 4
The Torah is a set of guidelines for living a successful Jewish life. Creating the Torah scroll is a labor-intensive task requiring the 304,805 letters to be put on parchment without the slightest of errors. A single wrong letter voids the entire process.
Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel hopes the KU Torah scroll will create a strong sense of Jewish community.
"We are hoping that many KU students and faculty will join this Torah by getting a letter to be written on their behalf," Tiechtel said. "We also want this Torah project
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SEE TORAH PAGE 2
feel so grateful that we are now in the process of receiving our own Torah," Zigheloim said. "A KU Torah is a great blessing because we now have our own compass, our own foundation to show us the way to more upright, selfless and elevated lives."
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Today is the last day to drop a class without getting a "W."
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
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