Rape Crisis Center offers advocacy and emphasizes prevention
Graphic courtesy of District Staff
One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while attending college, according to a recent study from National Criminal Justice Reference Service. At SCAD, the number of reported on-campus sexual assaults is far lower; there were actually no cases of sexual assault reported between 2011 and 2014, according to the university’s federal Clery Act report on criminal offenses.
“That doesn’t mean no SCAD student was a victim,” said Head of Student Conduct, Cris Dykeman.
Last year 133 cases of rape were reported to the Rape Crisis Center in Savannah with 18 to 25-year-olds being the highest demographic of rape victims last year. When asked about the number of male victims the center has received, Keisha Gibson-Carter — executive director of the Rape Crisis Center — said that she can “count the number of male victims they have received on one hand.” Gibson-Carter also stated that this does not necessarily mean there are few cases of male rape, but that the stigma for men is even greater, and therefore less cases are reported.
The Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire (RCC) was founded in 1975, when a group of women had a friend who was raped. The lack of resources and services provided to their friend was the reason they started the center.
“The center was founded during a time where our nation as a whole had an ill response to victims of sexual assault,” said Gibson-Carter. “Rape is about power, control and manipulation.”
The goal of the rape crisis center is to make victims feel empowered, safe and supported during such a powerless and difficult time. RCC focuses on advocacy and prevention. The Rape Crisis of the Coastal Empire covers four counties: Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty.
The RCC offers support beyond the crisis center including groups, individual counseling and follow-ups.
In an interview with the Head of Student Conduct, Dykeman stated that “statistics show 85 percent of women know their attacker.”
“Statistically it’s not going to be the guy hiding in the bush that going to come out and attack you. The majority of the time when things happen it’s someone you know,” said Dykeman.
Both student conduct and public safety and the RCC emphasize the fact that rape is never the victim’s fault, and that the victim should never be made to feel as though they are at fault.
With this said, Gibson-Carter added that the RCC still attempts to “help girls become more cognitive that the world is not always safe.”
“We never want to blame the victim. It’s never about what you wear, what or how much you drink,” said Gibson-Carter. She later added that “it’s a delicate balance between never blaming the victim and trying to avoid high-risk situations by positioning yourself in a way that is safe.”
Gibson-Carter explained that the main problem among students is that they lack the perspective that keeps them safe, can’t recognize their limits, don’t listen to the inner voice that keeps them safe or don’t pick the right group of friends.
Dykeman emphasized that the concern of the university, and her own personal concern during a time of a violent crime, is not whether the student was under the influence of a drugs or not, but their own health and safety. Although she cannot promise that a student will not be charged for underage drinking or drugs, Dykeman did emphasize that the victim’s health and safety takes first priority.
“Don’t let that be the reason you don’t tell or come in and seek help, cause in the end your violent crime is going to supersede that,” said Dykeman.
The RCC is identified as a first responder and works in tandem with services such as the county police and St. Joseph’s/Candler hospital. One way of contacting the center is calling 911. The victim will then be assigned an advocate and officer. The individual may also report the rape to a hospital or call the 1-800 crisis line, where they will then be taken to the hospital.
The victim’s advocate will always inform the victim what will occur every step of the way. The center is there for the victim throughout the whole process, and is as involved in the process as much as the victim allows them to be. The process includes a report of the event, an examination and a follow-up: one month, three months, six months and finally a year after the incident has occurred.
According to Dykeman the only anonymous source for reporting cases of rape at SCAD is the counseling department, which is still required to inform student success and public safety but without releasing any identifiable information.
Dykeman also noted that although there is a set plan for any sexual assault cases reported to SCAD, everything is taken case by case.
Dykeman explained that students typically call security after a rape has occurred. SCAD is equipped with an on-call system where the student will be provided with counseling when they call in and taken to the hospital if needed. The Dean of Students will also be notified. Once the report is made to SCAD, whether through public safety, student conduct or counseling, basic information of the incident is taken.
If a student was to report a rape to SCAD, examples of questions that will be asked of the student include: Was it a forcible rape? Was it a forcible fondling? Have you been to the hospital? Can we take you to the hospital? Did you go to the police? Do you feel safe?
If public safety deem the accused to be an immediate threat the accused student will be placed on interim suspension, meaning they are not allowed anywhere on campus: this includes dorms, classrooms or any other SCAD buildings. If not, the victim may choose to file no contact directive while the investigation is happening.
Dykeman emphasized that the students are never encouraged or discouraged. What happens and what actions are taken are up to the victim themselves. If the student does not feel safe and/or lives off campus, emergency housing is provided to the student for however long they need. Once the victim files a report, a hearing follows. The victim may choose whether or not they want to be present in person, on the phone or not at all.
“If there is enough evidence and I find someone responsible for a rape, expulsion is the most likely outcome. I can’t say 100 percent of the time because I don’t know the cases until they come in front of me and there’s always that possibility for extenuating circumstances,” said Dykeman.
If the accused is not a student, the student is still supported and walked through resources and services offered both at SCAD and through the RCC.
In terms of advocacy and prevention the RCC holds multiple events throughout the year including a “Walk a Mile In Her Shoes” coming up this April: which is national sexual assault awareness month. The crisis center also hosts 14 self-defense sessions.
SCAD offers R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) classes every quarter that teach both physical and mental protection. More information on R.A.D. and the classes taught at SCAD are available on the RAD website and SCAD R.A.D.s’ Facebook page . To register for an upcoming class, students can email RADS@SCAD.edu.
The Rape Crisis Center’s location is undisclosed in order to protect the privacy and safety of its victims, however more information is available on the RCC website and Facebook page . The number for the rape crisis hotline is 1-800-233-7273.
Written by Asli Shebe.
Asli Shebe is a senior writing major from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She began working for District in 2014 as a staff writer, then copy editor, A&E editor, Chief Assignment editor and finally, Editor-in-Chief in 2017. Asli currently holds the record for obtaining the most job titles during her time at District. When she’s not writing for District you can find her biking around the Historic District of Savannah at odd hours of the day.
