University of Virginia Library

Aid For Rape Victims

Student Council Offers Counseling, 'Supersound'

In the face of rising concern
over the incidence of rape of
women students since the
University co-educated,
Student Council will be
undertaking a varied campaign
of educational and preventive
measures to assure the safety
of all women students in the
fall.

According to President
Larry Sabato, Council's
approach to the rape problem
will be five-fold, ranging from
mere moral support for more
effective police 'preventive
patrolling,' to the relatively
more concrete sale of
high-pitched "Supersound"
devices to ward off would-be
attackers.

Mr. Sabato said that
Council fully supports the
emphasis on preventive patrol
at the University,
recommended by the
International Association of
Police Chiefs, IACP, study of
the University's Police
Department. He added that
Council was also pushing for
the Police Dept.'s student
cadet program, another of the
measures recommended in the
IACP report, "very, very
hard."

A major part of Council's
attempt to offer security to
women at the University is
"Supersound," to be sold by
Council to women students in
the fall. "Supersound",
according to the promotional
leaflet distributed with it,
"emits an ear-splitting sonic
blast designed to ward off
assailants by alerting
bystanders of an individual's
plight." The sound gadgets will
sell for $0.75.

As an educational device,
Council has purchased a
rape-prevention film titled
"Nobody' Victim." The film,
which cost $230, will be shown
the fall semester to as many
female students as can be
reached, both on and
off-Grounds, as well as to
women employees and nurses.
The film may also be provided
for other area schools and
colleges for viewing, Mr.
Sabato said.

Two graduate women have
also begun work on a rape
prevention pamphlet to be
distributed to all women
students and employees in the
fall. The pamphlet will provide
information on Virginia rape
laws and on Charlottesville
rape statistics. Mr. Sabato
predicted that Council would
sponsor and distribute the
pamphlet in the fall. The
pamphlet will touch on the
legal problems associated with
rape, as well as offer tips on
self-defense, on security
measures for homes or
apartments, and also what
procedures to follow in case of
rape.

Counseling will be available
to those women who become
raper victims, and the phone
numbers of the counselors,
usually rape victims
themselves, will be available at
police headquarters, University
Hospital, or by contacting
Annette Gibbs, associated dean
of students.

Mr. Sabato noted that
Council hopes to achieve even
greater co-operation with city
and county law enforcement
agencies in assuring the safety
of University women
off-Grounds. Council presently
is planning to propose revisions
to the present rape laws, in
order to diminish the strain
and stigma attached to
reporting a rape. Mr. Sabato
said that a University law
professor is studying the legal
and state rape statutes, and
based on the professor's
recommendation, Council
would attempt to reform court
procedures either on a local or
state level.