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Fighting back against sexual assault

By Dan Marries - email

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona says one in four college-aged women are victims of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault.

It's an alarming number and a worrisome statistic for parents sending their daughters off for a higher education. 

The ASUA Women's Resource Center works hard to reduce the risk by raising awareness. On Wednesday, volunteers set up an educational tent as part of the Rape Abuse Incest National Network's (RAINN Day) annual campaign to stop sexual assault on college campuses. 

In 2007, RAINN Day reached 1,000,000 students in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and Canada with information on how to reduce their risk of sexual violence and what to do if they or a friend have been assaulted.

Along with educating students on sexual assault, the Women's Resource Center is also campaigning for support of their proposal for a professionally directed Women's Center.

"We are trying to get 5,000 signatures on our petition to show the university the kind of support we have," says Allison Dumka from the Women's Center. 

She says with all of the resources the Women's Center offers, a fully professional Center is greatly needed.

"We offer these services, the self defense class, to provide women with a resource to negotiate that space to feel like they can assert themselves if need be."