PAGE 2 I THE MEREDITH HERALD { SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
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BE SAFE IN YOUR
SURROUNDINGS
Amy Hruby
Staff Writer
One hundred and forty five registered sex offenders live within a five
mile radius of the Meredith College campus according to http://sexoffender.
ncdoj.gov. The closest sex offender lives a mere eight-tenths of a mile from
the entrance to Meredith College; and thirteen others live within a mije
of campus., In addition to being within walking distance of registered sex
offenders, Meredith students could be exposed to.abusive partners, sexual
discriminators, and even the ever present but often-ignored leering college
boys each time they step off campus. As young women Meredith students
should feel in no way limited by this situation, but they should be sure to
prepare and protect themselves from the sexual predators that exist in their
community.
Lt. Chip Slade, a member of the Meredith security force and a self-
defense teacher, suggests that the best way for young women to stay safe
is to “be their own bodyguard” (a phrase he says is used by many rape
prevention officers). To protect themselves from sexual predators young
women should not exhibit any behaviors that they would not accept from
a bodyguard. For example: listening to headphones while walking through
town or texting while going through the parking lot at night. These are daily
activities that most college students do without thinking, but they actually
leave young women unaware of their environments and vulnerable to un
seen attackers.
Additional activities that can help prevent sexual assault are traveling
in groups rather than alone, especially when attending parties, being aware
of and limiting alcohol consumption (66% of sexual assaults involve alco
hol), and taking self defense classes to learn defensive maneuvers and gain
confidence. But many sexual assaults do not come from random attackers;
they develop much closer to home in the form of abusive relationships.
Beth Meier, the director of the Meredith Counseling Center, says that
the key indicators of an abusive or potentially abusive relationship include
intense possessiven^ss, reoccurring jealousy, a refusal to listen to the part
ner’s needs, occasional or constant belittling, attempts to isolate the partner
from other people, and overdependency. In addition to emotional and psy
chological abuse, physical abuse is an obvious indicator of an .unhealthy
relationship. Meier strongly argued that a relationship should be physically
abusive under no circumstances, noting that “alcohol or drug use is never an
excuse.”
Relationships should make both parties feel better about themselves. They
should boost morale and confidence. Abusive relationships tend to have the
opposite effects. They make people feel worse about themselves and leave
the abused person feeling drained and insecure. A person in an abusive re
lationship often reverts to survival mode, trying to get from one day to the
next without any plans for the future. Frequently, he or she wears blinders
and either does not see or is unwilling to acknowledge the abuse, but there
are many resources available to abused women if they take the first step in
asking for help.
Meier notes that Counseling Center staff members have been trained to
help victims of sexual and emotional abuse. Additionally, she says that the
Wake County Interact organization is a great resource fbr women seeking
help with an abusive relationship. Located on Oberlin Road near Cameron
Village, they offer 24-hour crisis counseling, support groups and shelters
for women in need.
Often, however, women trapped in abusive relationships feel unable or
are unwilling to ask for help. In these situations, friends and families often
want to help, but are unsure how. Meier suggests that loved ones approach
their friend or family member with concerns, pointing out specific behav
iors that have worried them and encouraging counseling or additional help.
While the victim may respond defensively at first, continual support over
time is incredibly helpful and can eventually urge the victim to get help or
end the relationship.
11 =1
LIBYA CELEBRATES
GADDAFI’S 40TH
YEAR IN POWER
Marlamawit Tadesse
Assistant Editor
. On September 1, 2009, Libya
commenced a-big celebration hon-
orfng Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s
coup d’etat that brought the leader
10 power in 1969. This year marks
Gaddafi’s 40th year in poy^er. The
guest list include twenty- seven Af
rican leaders who came to attend the
Afiican Union summit WHAT IS
THIS?, opened on Monday; along
with Venezuela’s president,. Hugo
Chavez; head of the Palestinian
Authority, Mahamoud Abbas; and
Maltese President George Abela.
The celebration, held at the capital
city of Tripoli, is scheduled to last
six days.
Muammar Gaddafi was born in
the desert near Sirte in 1942. In his
teen years, Gaddafi took part in an
anti-Israel protest during the Suez
crisis in 1956 because of his admi
ration foe Abdel Nasser, Egyptian
leader and Arab nationalist. In his
adult years, Gaddafi became one
unique leader. Whenever he goes
on foreign trips, he is accompanied
by his armed female bodyguards
because male bodyguards are eas
ily distracted. He is famous for his
luxurious Bedouin tent which is set
wherever he travels because it is
Libyan culture to accept guests In
Bedouin tents, a tradition'that* re
minds him of the desert. Libya cur
rently chairs the 53-members of the
African Union bloc. WHAT DOES
THIS HAVE TO DO WITH HIS
TRAVELS?
France 24 reported that the streets
of Tripoli were flooded with crowds
watching fireworks, dancing, mili
tary parades, and lavish celebrations
of Gaddafi’s 40th anniversary as
a leader. Colonel Gaddafi and his
guests were enjoying the show from
behind rbullet- proof glass. BBC’s
David Wiliey in Tripoli said that,
“All £yes were on the Libyan
leader, wearing a general’s uniform
as he sat on a reviewing platform
next to Libya’s lop milita'ry brass.”
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the
longest serving leader in both Af
rica and the Arab World, is enjoying
his celebration with an opening as
■grand as the Olympics.
According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN),
1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, and college-aged
women are four times more likely to be abused. These statistics makes it
incredibly important for Meredith students to be on guard against sexual as
sault and abusive relationships. Prevention begins with the steps mentioned
above: being aware of the surrounding environment, being safe with alco
hol, traveling in groups, and sharing concerns about relationships. Meredith
students are intelligent, empowered women in the Raleigh community, and
while fear of sexual predators should not be limiting, safety is important
and should never be overlooked.
If you ever feel unsafebn campus, please call security at 760-8888. Ifyou
are off campus you can call 911 for police assistance. Counseling Qenter
Director, Beth Meier, can be reached at 760-8427. the Interact Center has
two 24-hour phone lines. Rape and Sexual Assaiilt Services can be reached
at 9i9»828-3d05 and Domestic Violence Seirices can be reached at'9I9-
828-7740. »