JANUARY 11, 2005

On behalf of the Volunteers, Board, and Staff of the PEI Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, I commend UPEI on opening up dialogue about safety on campus. We took part in UPEI’s Safety Fair in November, finding it to be both informative and a great venue to network with campus organizations. Thank you for inviting us!

At this time, I would like to address an article that appeared in the November 30" issue-of The Cadre. In the article entitled, “Personal Safety while at the Bar a Concern for All”, Student Union President Clare Henderson is quoted as saying that date rape drug test cards are not necessary at The Wave, and that “we don’t want students to have to be afraid”.

Date rape drug test cards and all informational and safety materials around date rape are not going to rouse fear amongst students, but rather, will show that UPEI, the UPEI Student Union, and The Wave are serious about student safety.

In every aspect of our lives, we encounter safety measures: seatbelts / airbags, fire alarms, warning labels, food allergy alerts, video surveillance, sports helmets, the list goes on and on. These safety measures have not led to mass fear, but have enabled us to live, drive, work, and play with less fear, because we know that steps have been taken to increase our safety. This is also true of safety measures designed to prevent sexual violence. What could actually make students afraid is to know that date rape drugs are rumored to be on campus (as indicated in the Nov. 30th article), that the campus bar has no safety measures in place, and that, ifthey are drugged, they will not be able to protect themselves.

THE CADRE @

ON CAMPUS

Date Rape Drug Test Cards Will Not Rouse Fear on Campus

Most date rape drugs are easily dissolved in drinks and are difficult to detect without chemical testing. There is often no taste, no smell, and no discoloration to alert the victim. - These drugs cause dizziness, blackouts, sleepiness, forgetfulness, immobility, and increased drunkenness. Whena person has been drugged with GHB or

Ketamine or any of the popular date — rape drugs, s/he will rapidly lose their |

senses. Having a test card available could mean the difference between sexual assault and a safe night.

Public education is critical, but we also need to support people’s increasing awareness of the issues with concrete action and services. Date rape drug test cards allow people to immediately know if they have been victimized. That knowledge is power —with that knowledge, a victim can call for help, tell her girl friends to stay with her, or ask the club staff to keep her safe.

Aneasy safety step for UPEI to

take at this time is to provide date rape’

drug test cards in The Wave and in the residences. The PEI Rape Crisis Centre urges UPEI, the UPEI Student Union, and The Wave to reconsider placing date rape drug test cards in The Wave. We are also willing to help UPEI to prepare informational posters for the campus washrooms on date rape, date rape drugs, and how to get help if you are drugged or assaulted.

Kelly E. Robinson

Community Liaison & Projects Coordinator PEI Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Centre

(902) 894 - 5510

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