University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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$ g g g FAR LEFT: Students sponsor bowlers during Stop Rape Awareness Week, LEFT: Mr. Harr cuts the ribbon to the new Rape Crisis Center. Issue: and Events - 31

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KRCC sponsors stop rape awareness week With the increase of rape and the need for counseling, the Knoxville Rape Crisis Center lKRCCl was created in November 1973. The KRCC moved into its present location on the first floor of the Presbyterian Student Center, 1831 Melrose Ave., in March. 1974. Since that time many victims have received coun- seling. The counseling services included ac- companying rape victims to the hospital or police station, referring victims to legal counsel, and follow up counseling for the victim, her family, and friends The KRCC also provided overnight accommodations for victims at their request. In addition to counseling the KRCC offers information on birth control and venereal disease, seIf-defense classes, and campus speakers who talk about rape prevention and related subjects. The KRCC was co-chaired by Ali Kelly and Mary Hendricks. It has grown 30 - Issues and Event: from a small group of students to a staff of 30 volunteers operating 24 hours a day The KRCC could be reached at 522-7273 iRAPEl from 9 am. to 5 pm. Monday through Friday. The KRCC sponsored 'lStop Rape Awareness Week October 14-18. The week opened with bowling in the Uni- versity Center to raise funds for the KRCC. All bowlers were sponsored with the money being donated to the center. An opened forum on all aspects of rape was held and participants discussed a set of prepared topics with a questions and answer session following the discussion. Speakers were Jerry Becker, UT Law School; Dr. Karen Swander, UT Counsel- ing Center; Ida Webb, Knoxville Police Department; Ronald Webster, Attorney General; Jim Jullins, UT Hospital Ad- ministrator; Norma Walden, UT Director of Nursing; and Arthur T. Whitehead, Assistant Director Of Safety and Security. A debate was co-sponsored by KRCC and the UT Debate Forum on the pro- posed changes in Tennessee rape laws. Some areas covered were the requiring of a corroborating witness in addition to the victim, lowering the penalties for rape to facilitate convictions, and for- bidding defense attorneys to investigate the sexual history of the rape victim. After the debate, questions were taken from the floor. In the past year there was a 100 percent increase in the number of re- ported rapes in Knoxville It was esti- mated that only one out of every 10 rapes was reported. Victims of those rapes not reported may have been in serious medical need, but refused to admit to having been raped. Through the efforts of the KRCC more help was available to these victims.

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32 - Issues and Events