Date rape victim urges awareness
Campus Times
February 27, 1998
Date-rape survivor Katie Koestner will be at the University of La Verne
Monday, March 16, to speak about the prevention of rape and sexual assault
on college campuses.
The event is sponsored by Iota Delta Sorority, the Associated Student
Federation (ASF) Forum and various other contruibuters.
The month of March marks Women's History Month. It will consist of speakers,
activities and programs brought to the students by each of the three sororities
on campus. Each sorority will designate one week out of the month to dedicate
their programs to the recognition of women.
The local sorority, Iota Delta, has picked a date-rape speaker to kick
off its week of events.
Echelle Avelar, an alumna of Iota Delta, said that two years ago a former
sorority member was raped in her third floor bedroom in Brandt Hall.
She was raped by one of the residents who lived on the first floor in
the same building, and after going to the school officials and the La Verne
police with the issue, nothing was done to help her. The resident on the
first floor was no longer allowed to go to the third floor, and everything
was to be kept quiet.
"Date-rape is a really touchy subject on our campus and it is being
overlooked," Avelar said.
She said that with Women's History Month around the corner, a speaker
that would help raise awareness would be helpful. Avelar was looking on
the Internet for a speaker who could come to the campus. She found a few
speakers, but they were either located outside California or were not appropriate
for a college atmosphere.
Avelar said that she finally came across the Campus Outreach Service,
which was founded by Koestner in 1991.
She said, "I e-mailed her and told her about our campus and about
the rape incident with the former sorority member. She e-mailed me back
within 45 minutes and said she would love to come to La Verne."
Koestner was raped three weeks into her freshman year at Virginia's
William and Mary College in 1991. She was raped by a fellow student she
had been dating for 10 days. Koestner charged the attacker with sexual assault,
and he was found guilty.
However, the only punishment he received was banishment from all other
dorms but his own. Koestner later went public with her story to raise awareness
about rape.
"Koestner has appeared on 'Oprah,' 'Nightline' and has her own
HBO video [entitled 'No Visible Bruises: the Katie Koestner Story'],"
Avelar said. "She has already been to 450 schools, and wants to learn
about as many people's experiences so that she could eventually write a
book."
"ASF has sponsored $3,000 for this event and Loretta Rahmani, dean
of student affairs, contributed $250," said Jennifer Pashone, senior
Iota Delta member and fundraising chair for the event. President Stephen
Morgan has also contributed $250 toward the speaker.
"This speaker is something that is really needed," said Dr.
Rahmani. "Rape is an issue all around college campuses."
Avelar said, "our goal is to try and raise $4,000."
The sorority is only short $500 to cover the entire expense.
Avelar said that the money will cover a keynote presentation and two
or three workshops. The workshops include a resident assistant training
program, a showing of her HBO video and a workshop for peer educators, to
name a few.
"We want the whole day to be about date-rape. It will raise awareness
and bring openness to our campus," Avelar said.
