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Show 23, 19 TiKdaj. April J, Pre THE DAILY HERAI lUh Page B7 Viefllrais amid flheiir adlvoeattes mm rape in Utah Valley By KATRINA GILSTAO For The Daily Herald The word "rape" for many people is the scariest of all words in the English language. Experts estimate that one rape occurs every six minutes in the United States, according to a volunteer with the Center for Women and Children in Crisis, located in Provb. And during 1994 there were 52 confirmed rapes in Provo that is one rape a week. "Trie main problem in Provo is that it is an area that is supposed to are w1? don t take the pre- - cautions they should. The crime rate is lower than most cities, but that doesn't mean there is no crime," said Provo Police Officer Kirk E.. big city where crime is rampant She is from a town of 3,500 where 80 percent of the residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints. And Robert is not a criminal with his picture on "wanted" posters. He is g an LDS teenager who bragged of his "conquests' with Naomi to the guys in the locker room. Naomi continued "dating" Robert out of fear. "His friends had just beat someone up for doing nothing. What would they do to me for him of rape?" average-lookin- ls hard to tell aware that it is not crime free, and they need to take safety precautions," said Mittelman. "There are three parts of rape prevention. The first is public awareness, the secand the last ond recovery for victims." "There isn't the stigma to discussing rape like there used to be." said Bernson. "but think we still have a long w ay to go w ith how we handle rape." Education is a good way of preventing rape because it makes the public aw are, said Bern-so- if 1 n. Rape prevention classes are offered upon request by the repre- - Provo City Police Depart- Kirk Mittelman, Provo police officer -- asked Naomi. Mittelman. The 52.9 percent increase in confirmed rapes from 1993 to 1994 could be good news, or bad news, said Mittelman. "It is hard to tell if the rise in numbers represents a change in the actual crime rate, or a change in the number of victims who actually report the rape." "I think the increase in confirmed rapes is because more people are reporting the rapes, not because more rapes are occurring." said Susan Knadler. domestic violence coordinator at the Center for Women and Children in Crisis. The center has seen about the same number of victims yearly over the pst decade, said Knadler. "Most rapes in the Provo area are not like what you see on TV with a stranger jumping at you and attacking. 1 would guess that about SO percent of the area rapes are acquaintance rapes." said Mittelman. The acquaintance rapist is the biggest worry in an area like Pro-said Tamara Bernson, clinical educator for I'tah Valley Regional Medical Center's Emergency Center. "People think that because Pro-v- o is not a big city attracting serial rapists that it doesn't happen. If you're telling yourself that it isn't o. happening, you're putting your head in the sand." she added. "When the rapist is someone you know, you think 'maybe I should report it. maybe I shouldn't. " said Mittelman. The Center for Women and Children in Crisis reports that estimates show that only one in every five rape ictims reports the crime. Many victims do not report the rape because they are afraid of the pnvess they have to go through. "The investigators will badger you. but the reason they do is because you will get badgered on the stand," said Mittelman. "All they are try ing to do is help you and prepare you." I'tah recently passed a Rape Shield Rule, effective July 1994. that limits the amount of ev idence admissible in court. "It should help to give (victims) the comfort that their lives won't be drug out in court." said Jo Brandt, a victim assistance worker for the I'tah Council on Victims. Rules like these are helpful, but are not good enough for many v ictims. Although one in four women will be raped in her lifetime, less than ten percent will report it, and even fewer will prosecute, according the Center for Women and Children in Crisis. Maybe the only way to understand this is to hear a ictim's story. The names in the story have been changed. Naomi, a Utah college student, had been dating Robert for a couple weeks. Her parents disapproved of him. but that only gave Naomi more reason to continue dating him. "I needed someone to say everything was going to be OK. and he was the one who did that." said Naomi. After they had been dating for Fighting back tears. Naomi told of the many times Robert raped her. "The more he could look at me and know he had control, the better it was for him." said Naomi "A rape isn't about sex. it's about power. Every time he looked at me I could just remember his dark brown eyes staring a me in a devilish look that was showing his power. Even two y ears later it terrifies me to think about it " Naomi was afraid to tell anyone because Robert threatened her. "Even if you tell, no one will believe you. My friends all know about it and that you wanted it." Robert told her. And like many victims. Naomi felt helpless. There are places in Provo that v ictims can contact without risking their confidentiality. The Center for Women and Children in Crisis took 2.600 calls on its hotline last year. The center offers help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Victims are encouraged to contact a hotline, the police or to seek medical help immediately, said Mittelman. "If I had known of a hotline in my area and that my identity could be kept confidential. I would have ' called." said Naomi. "It is important to have someone to confide in and to get counseling if you have been raped." Rape is a nondiscriminatory crime. It can happen to anyone, anywhere. "Saying that it will never happen to y ou is like say ing. Tm never going to get AIDS, so it doesn't matter who I sleep with.' " said Mittelman. "It may not happen to y ou. but look around you. Look at the girl sitting behind you in class, or y our friend who is acting a little strange or y our sister. One of them has probably had to deal with some kind of rape." said Naomi. "Even though Provo is a relatively sale area, people need to be Mil 0 self-defen- se the rise in numbers sents a change in the actual crime rate, or a change in the number of victims who actually report the rape." Mt MOVIES BOOKS MUSIC SOFTWARE ment, as well as the BYU student group VOICE. "Knowing some basic through self-defen- se moves can help pre- vent rape," said Bernson. And carrying pepper-spraa personal alarm or making some kind of loud noise is a good w ay of deterring criminals, said Mittelman. If a person has been raped, the final "prevention" stage is to follow proper procedures after the crime. This can prevent the attacker from raping again. "It is difficult for many victims, because often what instinct tells them to do after a rape is the exact opposite of what should in fact be done." said Mittelman. The Center for Women and Children in Crisis gives four basic steps to follow after being raped. First, resist the temptation to shower, bathe, douche or change clothes. This may alter important evidence. Second, tell someone you feel safe confiding in. Third, get help. You can call a hotline or contact local police. And fourth, get medical treatment within 72 hours. This can be done through a private physician or at a hospital emergency room. Utah Valley Regional Medical Center can offer help to victims without legal involvement, said Bernson. "We want to do everything we can to conv ince victims it is safe to come here." "Getting help early on is important to the healing process." said Naomi. "You need help. There are so many feelings built up in you. and y ou need to get them out." Rape is a crime of power and control that needs to be talked about and better understood, said Bernson. "Guys need to understand that no means no. No doesn't mean maybe. No doesn't mean in a few minutes. No doesn't mean y es. No means no." said Naomi. y, Uw fix) ' -' !"; if J fLi I fy wgMMggTfta I " K-- mj IMWtHi L J I . 4zixk HOOTIE Cl THE BLOVFISH Fairweather Johnson 8 Editor's note: Katrina Gilshui is a BYU journalism stiulent w ho has two roommates who have been the victims of raie. v L UdJJ .i t: important questions you slxxikt ask w1en yxxi nxrt with mi insurance agent. As New York Lite agent, weleonx" yxxir questions. U'cause there's no reason w hy y ou shouldn't ask mo as much alxxu mysclt as I ask alxxu you Fox The Wolt Dtsney Compony fWlYYti c I . atxl let nx slxw you why New York Lile is Ctvmjvmy You 0'1i8.!a 'iii'i." TO EKHALG THE AQI5TOCA7S many long-terrelationships with my clients by answering their questions honestly, and tlx'yNe conve to trust n Call nx" uxtay In'. WAITING what's in it for you? his is one of the many : Tlx4 keep ! two months, the Robert demanded more from the petite model than she wanted to give. "I told him to stop and he wouldn't. I kicked and I screamed, but he didn't stop." said Naomi. Like many v ictims. Naomi did not report the crime. "I just wasn't going to sec him anymore." she said. "I tried to tell a friend once that something happened and I didn't want it to. but she just said. 'Oh. that's just the way it is.' " Naomi is not a "bad" girl from a I In oroVr to help y ou plan a ak liivatxial saaiegv. I Ivwc to you a lot ol questions, hut I expect y ou to ask me just as many. Questions like "What sort of policies do you own1 ami How k you get pant1" IVe Ixiilt Urn) (lm OOk .A D JILL. (anhOfcr 330SN TWt XT! J) CD-RO- M ex Aft 373-592- 6 or for Windows AAocintosh G oSt Wah Dtsney Compotiy W 9MM4krYtt 1 ml Adi M, 199 100 W. Kiv.daU tnity Cnw PEIOVO OFFICE University Ave, Suite 100 TOY GTC3Y ImmQy .. hwiak. 62? 0390 2217993 Sah laU Cy 6 M04 OnM Crf - taytotviK TOU NOVtl OflN 11 tlOM |
