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Volume 80, Issue 11 \Neb Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
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November 14, 2014
Find your voice:
Administration responds to student concerns
after attempted sexual assault on campus
By Kara Fohner
Editor in Chief
Editor’s Note: We delayed the publication of
the Clarion this week for two days in order to
provide expansive, thoughtful coverage of the
attempted assault, the meeting for women, and
the surrounding dialogue between students, staff,
and administration. Thank you for your patience.
The campus has been reverberating with specu
lation, anxiety, and indignation since Friday, Nov.
7, when an unknown man attempted to sexually
assault a female student outside Jones Hall at
around midnight.
The email that head of security Stan Jacobsen
sent the BC community on Saturday morning said
that when the student, who remains publically
unidentified, broke from his grip, the man fled
the scene. On Saturday, the student reported the
incident to campus life with permission to contact
the Brevard Police Department. She deseribed the
assailant as around six feet tall. He was wearing a
black sweatshirt. Authorities are currently investi
gating the incident, as it is yet unknown whether or
not the perpetrator is a student. Jacobsen advised
students to travel in pairs whenever possible and
to report any suspicious activity.
Director of Residence Life Michael Cohen later
informed students via email of a “women only”
meeting, which occurred at 9:30 on Wednesday
night. The meeting for men is scheduled for 8:45
p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17.
By the time of their meeting, some female stu
dents were already expressing their frustration.
A small college is an echo chamber for rumors
and misinformation, and many were up in arms
about the supposed monetary fine for those who
did not attend, as well as the division of genders
and, accordingly, the possible implication that
rape is primarily a female problem.
Dean of Students Debbie D’Anna sent a clarify
ing email on Wednesday afternoon to inform the
campus that while all were encouraged to come,
women who did not attend would not be charged.
The fine was originally a misunderstanding, but
it had evolved within hours into a controversial
rumor.
Finally, around 9:30, women ventured out of
the dark to assemble in Ingram Auditorium. The
cheerleading squad slouched in a row near the
front, still in uniform, while other students, fresh
from practice, SGA, and other campus activities,
gulped down their only meals of the evening or
clumped together in tense, whispering groups.
Some seemed skeptical, already made wary by
the widespread confusion.
“Before the meeting, I was worried we would
be told not to get assaulted,” said senior Alison
Brown.
Others, however, were curious and eager to hear
from the administration.
“I was very glad that they were addressing
the issue and that they opened up the forum for
discussion, because I felt like it was something
that everyone needed to hear,” said junior Gabby
Smith.
D’Anna began by explaining that she organized
the women’s meeting out of concern for the safety
of female students, as the victim, in this case, was
female. “We thought it was important to get you
guys in here as quickly as possible because I’ve
heard that people don’t feel safe on campus, and
that concerns me,” D’Anna said.
“We wanted to make sure that we had an envi
ronment and a climate that was safe for you to ask
questions, and sometimes that’s not always true
with a mixed crowd, and we have varying levels
of maturity,” she added. “I apologize if anyone
was offended by asking only women to come.”
D’anna also stressed that the purpose of the
meeting was to educate women on campus about
the policies and procedures surrounding sexual
misconduct, as well as the available resources
and the protocols that she and other staff must
adhere to in the event of a reported sexual assault.
“We will not tolerate sexual misconduct,”
D’Anna said. “That’s the bottom line.”
“But we can only deal with what we know, and
that’s why it’s important that there is trust between
all of us so that you feel comfortable reporting
things that have happened,” she added.
Dee Dasburg, a National Certified Counselor,
also spoke in introduction.
“Students come to talk to me about things all
the time,” she said. “And I hear stories. Each one
of you has a story. Each one of you sitting here
tonight, you already know what’s happened in
your past. You know who said what and who did
what. Some of you are sitting here tonight, and
something happened to you on campus. You know
what’s happened. You know if someone said or
did something to make you feel uncomfortable.
“Women, find your voice!” she continued, eyes
steady. “Don’t put up with inappropriate com
ments. We want you to feel empowered.” Her
audience broke out in a smattering of applause.
In addition to D’Anna and Dasburg, other staff
and community members in attendance were
housing director Michael Cohen, Director of
Student Engagement Alessandra Tavoloni, Direc
tor of Center for Multicultural Service Initiatives
Gabrielle Mellendorf, Stan Jacobsen, security
officer Marvin Metcalf, and Brevard Chief of
Police John Phillip Harris Jr.
Harris, in tune with Dasburg and D’Anna, urged
women to report any instances of sexual assault,
stressing that, in the event of an attack, a victim
may not want to immediately seek legal action,
but that she may change her mind down the road.
He likened his concern about the recent incident to
his paternal affection for his 18-year-old daughter.
“If you come to our police department, I expect
you to be treated exactly like I would treat my
daughter. It’s not because I have an 18-year-old
daughter, but because I want to treat everybody
with the best police service we can give,” Harris
said. “Our principles are on the side of our ve
hicles, and the middle principle is respect. I want
you to feel welcome. We will do everything we
can when you call us.”
He also suggested that women should take
certain precautions to decrease the likelihood of
an assault, forming contingency plans or travel
ing in groups.
“Plan ahead,” Harris said. “If you parked your
car somewhere near the mall when it was light.
See "Voice" on page 2