Thursday, March 25, 2010
Vol. 95, Issue 97
THE
DAILY
w w w. T h e D a i l y A z t e c . c o m
AZTEC
Tw i t t e r : T h e D a i l y A z t e c
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1913
I N S I D E T O D AY SPOTLIGHT
Statistics show fewer assaults K R I ST I N A B L A K E A S S I S TA N T C I T Y E D I T O R
JEREMY POINCENOT A student struggles with a degenerative disease, which causes him to start to go blind. page 4
SPORTS
SWEET TO ELITE? The San Diego State women’s basketball team has a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. page 9
TEMPO
DRAGON TRAINING The most recent DreamWorks animated movie pits dragons against Vikings. page 13
TODAY @ SDSU Concert Noon Aztec Center DJ Hurricane Katrina will play a variety of music for the last nooner concert of the month. For more of today’s headlines, visit:
www.thedailyaztec.com
CONTACT GENERAL INFORMATION 619.594.4199
EDITOR
IN CHIEF, FARYAR BORHANI 619.594.4190 EDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
CITY EDITOR, WHITNEY LAWRENCE 619.594.7781 CITYEDITOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
FEATURES EDITOR, NICOLE CALLAS 619.594.6976 FEATURE@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
Fewer sexual assaults were reported on and around campus last year, according to data compiled by the San Diego State Police Department. SDSU Police Crime Prevention Specialist Marc Fox said that five sexual assaults were reported last year. “From a police standpoint, we’d always like to think that it was something that we did that specifically dropped that, but I can’t take credit for that and I don’t think the department can take credit for that,” Fox said. The reason for the decrease is unknown. It may be attributed to either fewer incidents reported or fewer sexual assaults, Fox said. Since the start of this year, four sexual assaults, including two that were committed in earlier years, have already been reported, according to Fox. Both the 2009 and 2010 numbers, however, do not include crimes that occurred on public property, because the statistics are not yet available. Because of the decline in the number of reported sexual assaults last year, Fox said that SDSU is statistically ahead of the curve for 2010, but still consistent and within the range of previous years. According to crime statistics gathered by the SDSU Police Department, there were nine forcible sex offenses in 2008, which include crimes that occurred on campus and crimes that occurred in buildings and property that is considered off-campus, but affiliated with the university. A total of 14 cases were reported in 2008 after including crimes that occurred on public property. Fox said that on average, nine to 12 sexual assaults are reported on and around campus each year. For the purpose of statistical reporting, the definition of “sexual assault” includes not just rape, but also sexual battery — sometimes considered forcible fondling — forcible oral copulation, forcible sodomy and any other type of forcible sexual offense. There are several safety standards students should practice to prevent sexual assaults, Fox said. These include using a buddy system, consuming alcohol responsibly, knowing personal limits and setting boundaries. Fox said it is important to note that most sexual assaults occurring
Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor
Most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim, according to SDSU Police Crime Prevention Specialist Marc Fox.
within the SDSU Police Department’s jurisdiction have similar surrounding circumstances; 95 percent of sexual assaults were perpetrated by someone known to the victim, based on analysis of the statistics throughout a 20-year period, according to Fox. He added that most assaults occur at parties or other events where alcohol is being served, and the victim and suspect are usually intoxicated. Lori Bednarchik, a health educator at Student Health Services, said people cannot give consent for sex when they are under the influence of alcohol. “If clear verbal consent is absent, then this is by definition sexual assault,” Bednarchik said. “It is important that college students are communicating during sexual encounters, and are clear about their sexual limits.” There are several resources on campus for sexual assault victims, including the Health Promotion Department, Counseling & Psychological Services and Survivor Outreach & Support. Some of the on-campus resources available are peer health education programs such as Fraternity Men Against Negative Environments and Rape Situations. FratMANers is a program that aims to “increase awareness about rape,
potential rape situations and sexually coercive behavior while decreasing the acceptance of rape myths,” according to the Student Health Services Web site. Sigma Phi Epsilon member Scott Mitchell joined the program in the fall of 2008. Mitchell said educating others is especially important to him because one of his friends was raped when he was a senior in high school. “Seeing what it did to my friend and everything she went through … it didn’t get better for such a long time; it was emotionally traumatizing to her,” Mitchell, who is a biology and kinesiology senior, said. “I wanted to do something to make sure that as little people (as possible) had to go through that again.” Information systems senior Nick Kwok, who is also a Sigma Phi Epsilon and FratMANers member, has people close to him who have been victims of sexual assault, too. “In my mind, I really think that it’s one of the worst things that can possibly happen to another person,” he said. “I just really wanted to be a part of anything I could do to prevent that from happening.” Kwok, who has participated in the program for three semesters, believes it’s vital to educate Greek members because they are a highrisk demographic and many put
themselves in high-risk situations. “Granted, everyone parties, but obviously at San Diego State, it’s a huge part of the Greek system lifestyle,” he said. “So it’s extremely important to educate those in the Greek system about what rape is and what proper consent is.” No matter what precautions are taken, however, Fox said that anyone can become a victim of sexual assault. If a forcible sex offense occurs, both Fox and Bednarchik agree it is important to report a sexual assault, even if it is reported anonymously. “It is important to report sexual assaults because the person may have done this to someone else, or may do it to someone else in the future,” Bednarchik said. “It is important, even if the case does not go to trial, to report. The decision to report, however, is always the victim’s choice and this decision should never be forced upon an individual that has been assaulted.” Whether or not sexual assault victims decide to report, Bednarchik said all victims should seek help. “We encourage any student who has been assaulted to seek help,” Bednarchik said. “You are not alone.”
SPORTS EDITOR, EDWARD LEWIS 619.594.7817 SPORTS@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
OPINION, ALLAN ACEVEDO 619.594.0509 OPINION@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
GREEK BEAT
TEMPO EDITOR, ALLIE DAUGHERTY 619.594.6968 TEMPO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
ART DIRECTOR, ELENA BERRIDY 619.594.6979 ARTDIRECTOR@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
PHOTO EDITOR, GLENN CONNELLY 619.594.7279 PHOTO@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
WEB EDITOR, MYLENE ERPELO 619.594.3315 WEB@THEDAILYAZTEC .COM
ADVERTISING 619.594.6977
INDEX SPOTLIGHT.......................................................................4 SPORTS.............................................................................7 TEMPO...........................................................................13 CLASSIFIEDS..................................................................23 THE BACK PAGE.........................................................24
Two IFC positions elected Interfraternity and Panhellenic council elections for the next academic year continued this week. Two IFC executive positions were elected last Thursday. Cody Barbo, current president of Phi Kappa Theta and IFC assistant activities director, was elected as the new IFC president. Martin Reiman, Sigma Chi president, has been elected as IFC judicial director. Elections for other positions will be held during the IFC meeting today.
Additional Panhellenic positions elected Elections for several positions on the Panhellenic Executive Board were held Monday, according to Caitlyn Zang, assistant coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Lauren Caris, current president of Alpha Chi Omega, was elected council president. Carmen Rendoni of Kappa Delta was elected judicial director and Alyssa Meissner of Delta Gamma was elected scholarship director. Laura Richardson of Kappa Delta was elected risk
management director and Lindsay Beroza of Alpha Chi Omega was elected sports director. Heidi Stafford of Gamma Phi Beta was elected activities director, Becky King of Alpha Phi was elected public relations director and Kyra Baerst of Delta Zeta was elected A.S. Liaison.
USFC elections The United Sorority and Fraternity Council is also conducting elections this week to fill executive positions for the next academic year. Results have yet to be announced.
Sorority hosts multicultural event Upsilon Kappa Delta will hold its fourth annual Multicultural Night from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight in Montezuma Hall. Organizations on campus and from the community will perform dances and other shows, according to Nicole Lamp, Upsilon Kappa Delta president. “We want to bring cultural awareness to San Diego State,” Lamp said.
—Compiled by Senior Staff Writer Reem Nour