MONDAY,SEPTEMBER 16,2002
SEX ON THE HILL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5F
Lawrence has resources for rape survivors of both genders
By Nate Karlin
Kansan correspondent
Recent incidents involving rape survivors on the University of Kansas campus prove the unpredictability of the occurrence of rape - there is neither a specific location nor time of day where rape usually occurs.
Although one of the rape survivors experienced a stranger-type rape, the most common form of rape is date or acquaintance rape in which the survivor has some knowledge of who the predator is. In any case, there is no way to totally prevent rape, but precautions can be taken to lessen the chances of a rape taking place.
In some cases, a victim of date rape becomes incoherent to his or her surroundings as the result of a drug. Bill Smith, Watkins Memorial Health Center's Health Educator, said the three major predatory drugs used are: Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Ketamine (Special K)
and Rohypnol (Roofties).
Rooffes come in a powder or pill form that dissolves easily in liquid, while GHB and Ketamine are clear liquids. GHB and Ketamine are odorless and leave no trace of residue.
All three drugs act as sedatives that can depress the central nervous system.
Smith said mixing GHB with alcohol could lead to unconsciousness and memory loss so that the victim cannot remember what happened.
"It can even be a fatal drug too if mixed improperly with alcohol." he said.
Because the drugs simulate the effects of alcohol, one warning sign of possible drug ingestion is feeling the effects of alcohol in less time than normal.
Amy Quirin, Garnett senior, said she used caution when going out.
"I never picked up any random drinks and I always go out in a group," she said.
Smith said Watkins educated students about going out in groups. He suggested the designated driver watch out for everyone else in the group.
Other simple ways to prevent potential date rape include: not accepting anonymous drinks, buying your own drinks and not leaving drinks unattended. Smith said students should get a new drink if they leave their drinks unattended at any time.
Corrina Beck, Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center's Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Program Coordinator, said if a student is raped she should first go to the hospital to get tested for injuries and possible drug ingestion. Next, she should prosecute within 12 hours if she wants to retain her body as evidence.
"When we talk to a student who has been sexually assaulted, we run through a list of therapists who are available on campus," Beck said.
Emily Taylor's Women's Resource Center is one of the several on-campus rape survivors' support groups. The support group also provides academic assistance.
assistance.
"After a woman has been raped and she is having trouble in her classes, we can write letters to her professors and we can help her though the academic repercussions of rape," she said.
Counseling and Psychological Services also offers support to survivors and anyone else affected by the incident including friends and family. The psychological support group provides counseling not only for survivors of rape, but for anxiety, depression, family difficulties and relationship problems as well.
Despite popular stereotypes making rape synonymous with women survivors, men, too, are just as capable of becoming a survivor of rape or sexual assault. According to John Wade, counseling psychologist and outreach
coordinator, about ten percent of all rape and sexual assault survivors are men. Although rape is hard for both males and females, Wade said men deal with rape differently because it is stereotypically portrayed as a female issue.
Men's outreach support groups are available on campus.
Wade said time length for a rape survivor to share his or her story varies, depending on how comfortable the survivor felt about the incident. "What I really stress when I work with someone who has been raped or sexually assaulted, that it's really up to them," he said. "What's really important is that the survivor feels in control of the process."
Wade's strongest advice to survivors of rape or sexual assault is to confront the trauma at his or her own pace.
Contact Karlin at correspondence@kansan.com. This story was edited by Amanda Sears and Chris Wintering.
Rape Resource Centers
Counseling and Psychological Services
2100 Watkins Memorial Health Center
864-2277
www.ku.edu/-caps/
Rape Victims Survivor Service
1419 Massachusetts
2518 Ridge Ct. Suite 211
841-2345
www.grapevine.net/~rvss
Women's Transitional Care Services P.O. Box 633 843-333
Lawrence Memorial Hospital 325 Maine St. 749-6100
Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center
22 Strong Hall
864-3552
www.ku.edu/~etwrc/
index
Local bars to fill gay-night void left by Tremors' closing
By Katie Nelson
Kansas staff writer
Dingy sheets of newspaper cover parts of the grimy windows of what used to be Tremors Night Club at 729 New Hampshire St.
go out," Richards said
The bar, which closed this summer, hosted Lawrence's only designated gay dance night. Its closing leaves a painful gap in the gay community's social scene, said Chase Richards, coordinator of Queers and Allies and McPherson junior, a KU student organization.
"It stings for people who like to
Tremors used to host Alternative Lifestyles Night on Wednesday. It was a successful, and sustainable, dance venue that pumped out some of the only techno music around.
Now, since its close, some local businesses are trying to fill the void.
Queers and Allies is meeting with a manager from Jack Flanigan's Bar and Grill, 806 W. 23rd St., on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of creating another weekly, gay-friendly dance night at the club on Wednesday nights.
Fifi's, an Italian eatery at 925
"For being as openly friendly as it is,it's strange that there isn't a 24-seven open gay bar."
Chase Richards coordinator of Queens and Allies
Iowa St., is also considering an eveninggeared toward that crowd.
So why the interest catering to the gay and lesbian community?
It could be the money.
Teller's, 746 Massachusetts St.
has a long-standing "Family Night," which draws a large turnout, bringing in anywhere from 150 to 300 people on Tuesday nights. It's good business for the downtown restaurant's bar, which is normally not filled to capacity late at night early in the week, said Tony Rohn, a Teller's manager.
When you get 300 people in there and they stay until close, it's good for sales," Rohn said.
Family Night originated through the gathering of a group of primarily lesbian friends of a Teller's bartender. It attracted an
older crowd, said Sean McNaughton, but has since evolved into a younger group that represents Teller's biggest weeknight revenue generator.
"People are realizing there is a lot of money to be made," said McNaughton, a Teller's server.
Yet, even as more businesses establish themselves as gayfriendly, Lawrence still has no consistently gay bars.
That's surprising, said Richards.
"For being as openly friendly as it is, it's strange that there isn't a 24-seven open gay bar," he said.
I think they would get a big draw from Topeka, Kansas City, and smaller towns around."
But, in the meantime, people will continue to utilize what Lawrence has to offer.
"It's a good place to meet people, a friend of a friend of a friend kind of thing," McNaughton said. "It's more comfortable because you're more likely to meet people who are there for the same reasons you are."
Contact Nelson at knelson @kansan.com. This story was edited by Ryan Malashock.
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