The Daily Free Press
Year xli. Volume lxxxii. Issue lxxviii.
Campus & City
MASS. MONEY: Murray signs bill to protect military bases
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012 The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University Sports Sci Tuesday
WIT WEIGHT LOSS: Researchers focus on brain to drop pounds page 5
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SUITABLE SENDOFF: Seniors win last regularseason game page 8
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Students respond to recent incidents, culture at BU Election timeline change approved by Student Union By Gina Curreri Daily Free Press Staff
This is the second part of a series examining how Boston University handles cases of sexual assault, in response to the two separate arrests of men’s hockey players for sexual assault in the last two months. Boston University students weighed in on whether recent incidents of sexual assaults and “peeping Toms” are coincidental or part of a larger “rape culture” on campus. In addition to the two sexual assault cases involving former BU men’s hockey players, BU has also reported three peeping incidents and an additional assault, which occurred Sunday night in Mugar Memorial Library, BU Police Department officials said. College of Communication junior Jenny Kadenkavil noted possible issues involving the culture on campus. “There may be something wrong in culture,” she said, “especially if sometimes certain actions are seen as okay in some sense, or if it becomes a part of accepted or norm culture when it definitely should not be.” Kadenkavil, president of Gamma Phi Beta, said the sorority leaders have taken it upon themselves to educate their members. Gamma Phi Beta has promoted women’s self-worth and encourages sisters to travel
By Rachel Eides Daily Free Press Staff
AUDREY FAIN/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
A set of stairs located behind the Life Science and Engineering building that connect to Beacon Street is known among students as the “rape stairs.” The recent string of events involving sexual assault has lead the university to examine the potential “rape culture.”
in groups. They have also begun talking about educating members about how to respond to sexual assault incidents. “In response to the events that have happened . . . We have planned an educational event about how women can protect themselves against sexual assault,” she
said. “I’m sure many other chapters will be doing something similar to protect their women.” Ann Masline, a freshman in the School of Hospitality Administration and School of Management, described the past few
Assault, see page 2
Student charged with assault after Mugar Library incident By Emily Overholt Daily Free Press Staff
A Boston University student was charged with assault and battery following an incident in Mugar Memorial Library Sunday night, university and city officials said. Prateek Jain, 19, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery on Monday in Brighton District Court, Jake Wark, a Suffolk County District Attorney spokesman, said. The BU Police Department received a report of the incident at 9:45 p.m., Captain Robert Molloy said. A female student reported that the male student put his hands under her shirt while she sat at a desk in the library. “There was a conversation before that, she had just met him,” Molloy said. “He asked her a question before that, then came back and sat next to her and started
up a conversation and then did that.” Officers arrested Jain, an Allston resident, in Mugar shortly after the report was filed, Molloy said. BUPD had sought a complaint of indecent assault and battery “based on the nature of the incident,” but a clerk in the Brighton District Court issued assault and battery charges, Wark said. Wark said the defendant placed his hand the victim’s stomach, which is usually considered a private area due to its close proximity to the chest. “Cases of that nature are generally charged as indecent assault and battery but the charges are actually issued by the clerk’s office,” Wark said in a phone interview. The Brighton District Court Clerk’s office was unavailable for comment at press time. A not-guilty plea was automatically
entered on Jain’s behalf in the arraignment, as is the common practice for defendants in the district court, Wark said. Jain was held on $500 bail, and he was ordered to stay away from the victim while the case remains open. Wark did not comment about whether or not he made bail. The next court date for Jain is scheduled for March 23. Wark made no comment about the defendant’s hands going underneath the victim’s shirt, but did confirm that the victim was touched on her stomach. Upon receiving the report, BUPD searched the library, identified the student and placed him under arrest. Security at Mugar declined to comment. BU spokesman Colin Riley said the Dean of Students office will determine what disciplinary actions should be taken.
Student Union narrowly passed the election timeline change proposal after mistakenly announcing at the meeting Monday night the proposal failed. Sixty-five percent of the senators who were present at the meeting voted to pass the proposal. Union required that two-thirds of members be present for the proposal to go to a vote, Male said. Of those members, there needs to be a simple majority of at least 51 percent for a measure to pass. Student Elections Commission Chair Amanda Peterson said whoever wins the election in April will serve a six-month term through the fall semester. Whoever is elected in early November will take office in January. Peterson, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said Union will notify students about the six-month term for the candidates by distributing posters and flyers, as well as posting on Facebook and Twitter. The ballot is expected to include a statement indicating that elected candidates will serve for six months, rather than a full year. The proposal went to vote in spite of the lack of consensus surrounding it. Union members spent the majority of the meeting debating over the election timeline proposal, and a number of members proposed alternatives. SMG sophomore Caitlin Seele said SMG Government agreed and supported the election timeline proposal. However, South Campus Sen. Lauren LaVelle said her constituents did not agree with the proposal. They offered suggestions for ways to enhance the transition period, such as holding elections earlier in the spring semester. Senators debated a possible compromise to hold elections in February or March to provide a longer transition period than what currently exists without expanding it to an entire semester. Peterson said, however, it would be difficult to hold elections earlier. “We already lengthened the campaign
Union, see page 4
BU community examines ‘rape culture,’ possible solutions for future prevention at town hall meeting By Mary Yatrousis Daily Free Press Staff
College of General Studies sophomore Taylor Todd said Boston University should be held to certain standards in addressing issues related to “rape culture.” “A lot of high schools and other institutions are held to that standard,” she said. “So why shouldn’t BU?” The Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism held a conversation with Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore and a town hall meeting on Monday night. About 50 students gathered to explore the term “rape culture” and how to address it at BU. Students raised their hands and were selected to speak by CGSA-affiliated students moderating the meeting. The students were instructed to introduce themselves by first name, or anonymous, and to specify what gender pronoun they would like to be called. One student said part of the rape culture encompasses several misconceptions and
issues, including students’ failure to understand the terms of sexual consent and the idea that people have to guard their sexuality. The student, who did not disclose their name to the group, said rape culture is perpetuated by sexual crimes, misogyny and institutional tolerance, rather than the way in which people dress. Much of the town hall meeting focused on what more BU could do to educate people on rape culture, stop rape culture and offer more support to the “rape culture survivors” on campus. The CGSA called for additional fulltime staff members to deal specifically with sexual assault victims, according a CGSA Press Release from Thursday. The CGSA suggested mandatory trainings for all coaches, athletes, faculty and student leaders by the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, as well as a “zero-tolerance” policy for convicted perpetrators of rape
Town, see page 4
HILIARY LARSON/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Members for the Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism listen to student Awo Yayra Sumah as she voices her opinions on the need for aggressive management in addressing attitudes against rape victims. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the issues of passive attitudes towards rape on campus and how to help enable victims and concerned students speak up against negative “rape culture.”