Although Carbondale can boast about having the oldest rape crisis center in the nation, sexual assault awareness is critical because rape does occur within the community and on-campus, according to a program coordinator at the Women’s Center.

Carbondale is not only the home of the oldest rape crisis center in the country, but it also the only rape crisis center in Southern Illinois, said Carolyn Prinz, the program coordinator of the Rape Action Committee at the Carbondale Women’s Center.

Prinz said she started to get involved with sexual assault because she said there is a lot of misinformation about the crime. She said she wanted to increase awareness and myth-busting.

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According to Prinz, 200 sexual assaults were reported in five Southern Illinois counties in 1994:Jackson, Williamson, Perry, Union and Franklin.

According to police crime rates, 25 of those sexual assaults occurred in Carbondale, five of which happened on campus.

University Police Chief Sam Jordan said from 1990 through June of 1995 there were 28 sexual assaults and six attempted sexual assaults on campus.

Jordan said 71 percent of the assaults occurred in parking lots and dormitories. He said 21 of the sexual assaults took place in on-campus housing and dormitories.

The problem spots are dormitories and on-campus housing, Jordan said.

Jordan said more than half of the sexual assaults from 1990 to 1995 occurred between midnight and 4 a.m.

He also said in 59 percent of the incidents, the perpetrators were acquaintances, and alcohol was involved 29 percent of the time.

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University Police Sergeant Nelson Ferry said the University does not have the funding for an escort service now, but may in the future. The service would provide escorts who would walk people around campus after dark.

Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard said he believes the new Mass Transit System, scheduled to begin in Carbondale this year, could definitely have a positive effect on making people feel better and safer.

Carbondale Police and SIUC both offer women’s safety classes. Carbondale Police offers one monthly.

Carbondale Community Resource Officer Don Priddy said the police department’s class is usually from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for three days during a two-week period. He said the first night of class is a lecture and the following two classes are physical self-defense training.

Deborah Morrow, a women’s self defense instructor, said she and a colleague offer a basic course in October and in the spring. She said women can register for the classes at the SIUC Student Recreation Center.

Prinz said sexual assault happens way too often; it is very common and believes more awareness is needed to stop it.

People are scared to talk about it, Prinz said.

No one is holding a gun to their head making them do it. Prinz said, Sexual assault is not about sex. It is a violent crime. It is about power, anger and control.

Prinz said 95 percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated by men.

But that in no way means that 95 percent of men are perpetrators, Prinz said.

Prinz also stressed that women are not the only victims of sexual assault. She said men and children are also victims.

Eighty-four percent of sexual assaults are committed by acquaintances, Prinz said.

Approximately 55 percent of

see ASSAULT, page 6