Bicentennial Blackout brings in $2,000 for BSC
We think it is safe to say that last Friday, the Goggin was officially "Blacked Out." We want to thank the student body for their energetic and spirited response to an event that had never been done prior to the opening of our new arena. The atmosphere at puck drop was absolutely electric.
Though the result of the game was not what we had hoped for, it was a fitting tribute to send out a senior class that made history with the most wins in Miami University hockey history with a historic show of student unity by blacking out the Goggin for the first time.
Through your collective efforts, we sold out of the more than 500 Bicentennial Blackout T-shirts, and raised more than $2,000 for the Bicentennial Student Center.
As we continue the effort to improve school spirit at Miami, the establishment of tradition is vital to the cause. It is our hope the Blackout will continue to occur each year during the last regular season home game of the hockey season.
Thanks again to the vast majority of you who put Miami unity first and participated in the Blackout.
Mike ScottStudent Body Presidentscottmj@muohio.edu
Brian GrigsbyPresident of Red Alertgrigsbbe@muohio.edu
Students should address problem of sexual assault
On behalf of the staff and volunteers of the Butler County Rape Crisis Program, I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the Association for Women Students and all those who attended last weekend's production of "Vagina Monologues." A portion of the proceeds benefits the Rape Crisis Program, and it is used to purchase important materials, supplies and equipment that are not funded by traditional sources. All of the Rape Crisis Program staff attended "Vagina Monologues" and found it to be a most entertaining and enlightening event.
The Rape Crisis Program is based in Oxford, and we utilize the time and talents of many student volunteers to provide support to sexual assault survivors. We have read with interest in recent weeks the various points of view raised about the problem of sexual assault (or lack thereof) on Miami University's campus. As the sole organization in Butler County providing 24-hour advocacy and support to survivors, I can assure you that sexual assault is definitely a problem on Miami's campus. The number of sexual assault forensic exams performed on student survivors this academic year is higher than ever before. This does not necessarily mean that sexual assaults are on the rise at Miami; it could mean that survivors are feeling more comfortable coming forward to report the crime. And Miami is certainly not unique-sexual assault is a problem everywhere, on campuses across the country and in towns around the world, but it is foolish to think that sexual assault doesn't happen here. If everyone who was sexually assaulted came forward to identify themselves as a survivor, this community would be astonished.
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If we know that sexual assault is a problem at Miami, the question begs: what do we do about it? Certainly Miami has taken a huge step in tackling this issue by creating a sexual assault prevention and response program, staffed by Nicole Hall. Such a position is vital to any campus, and Nicole's presence has already made a difference at Miami. But despite Nicole's best efforts, and our program's best efforts, the classic misconceptions about sexual assault persist. Sexual assault is an act of violence, not a "miscommunication" or "sex gone bad." Alcohol can confuse boundaries in sexual situations, but it is most commonly used as a tool of coercion by perpetrators whose intentions are to take advantage of vulnerable individuals. Sexual assault is best thought of as a human rights and public health issue. The physical and mental impact of sexual assault on survivors is well documented, as is the economic cost of responding to it. Instead of looking at sexual assault as a "he said-she said" issue, it's time we start looking at it as a violation of the basic human right to live free from violence and fear.
I hope the discussion about sexual assault continues. The more it is talked about, even if it is not in a positive or educated light, the more attention is brought to such an important issue. If you are interested in learning more about how you can make a difference in the larger community, please contact the Rape Crisis Program. To find out how to get more involved on campus, please contact Nicole Hall. We need passionate individuals to help us address the ongoing problem of sexual assault.
Becky PerkinsDirectorButler County Rape Crisis Programperkins624@yahoo.com
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