Sexual Assault/Rape Awareness Day
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000
8:30 p.m. Candlelight Vigil
Old Main Steps
Remarks by President Graham B. Spanier

We are here tonight to make a powerful, visible statement as a community and as individuals.

Every year in this nation, more than 700,000 women are raped or sexually assaulted. Less is known about the frequency of attacks perpetrated against men, but they are among the victims as well. As the most rapidly growing violent crime in America, sexual assault claims a victim every 45 seconds.

We must speak out about these crimes of sexual aggression to let others know that we will not tolerate rape, sexual assault, domestic violence or other harmful acts that destroy the dignity and self-worth of any member of our community.

These violent acts not only degrade the victims, but also our campus community and society in general.

Acts of violence and aggression that go unchecked have the shocking ability to quickly destroy a community by shattering the trust and safety we highly cherish. Through this vigil, let us send a clear message that there is no room on any Penn State campus, or anywhere in society, for these terrifying and often brutal crimes.

At Penn State, there are many people working to implement the social and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent rape and sexual assault. Their efforts include educational programming to raise the level of awareness, advocacy for safer surroundings, promotion of increased civility and social responsibility, and providing resources, information and referral services.

We are committed to ending sexual violence and to responding quickly and compassionately to those victimized by it.

In this month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Congress has reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, which allows spending of $3.3 billion over the next five years on new and existing programs to combat sexual violence.

As part of that reauthorization and through the efforts of Sabrina Chapman, director of our Center for Women Students, and Peggy Lorah, assistant director of the center, Penn State will receive more than $450,000 to improve the campus culture and increase prevention of these heinous crimes.

Through this funding, we are launching a broad initiative to fight violence against women with new collaborations with community partners and new educational programs.

The money also provides training for Judicial Affairs staff and University police officers, as well as all faculty and staff. Some of these programs will extend beyond University Park to other Penn State locations.

It is my hope that through these initiatives we can focus community attention on the work that still needs to be done to stop all forms of violence.

We must continue to draw attention to the problems of the victims of these crimes of sexual aggression and hatred.

As I have said before, actions that threaten the dignity or safety of any one of us, represent threats to all of us.

Sexual assault impedes the personal and academic development of everyone in our community. Let us join together to stop this silent, violent epidemic.