PERSPECTIVES do The Michigan Daily Page 5 No more rape By Sharon P. Holland It was the winter of my junior along with other similar statements. year in college when I first witnessed But, their most insulting, degrading what rape could really do to a sur- and racially specific statements were vivor, to a friend and to a commu- reserved for the women of color on nity. On my campus we were prepar- the march. For us, there was special ing for a Take Back the Night March treatment like, "Go get raped you -- it would be my first time organiz- nigger bitch" as well as "you espe- ing as well as attending any woman- cially asked for it, didn't you, you centered event on campus. whore." That night we walked a route When I left my former University, through campus and stopped for a the Women's Center there was de- moment of silence at sites where manding a rape crisis counsellor and sexual assaults had occurred. We a centralized grievance procedure for were prepared for about 5 such stops sexual harassment cases. It was also along the route. What happened was in the process of advocating for a astonishing - over 25 women woman who was sexually assaulted stopped our silent demonstration to in one of the "Clubs" - ironically, speak about their own experiences of the same one which turned away a sexual assault. This couldn't have woman who had just been assaulted been easy for women attending such on the street. When I arrived at a small Ivy League institution which Michigan, I found that the same often showed little respect for its problems existed here that I faced at women - outnumbered 5 to 1 by my old University. I eventually men - who were actively recruited found the Sexual Assault Prevention for private parties such as the "rape and Awareness Center (SAPAC) and and pillage night" held by the cam- became a counsellor on its 24-hour pus "Eating Clubs." crisis line. During our four-hour march in I know I will never forget what the rain I also heard about a woman happened to me and other women of who was assaulted in front of one of color on that street in late April of the above "Clubs." When she 1986. I work on the SAPAC crisis escaped from her assailant, she line because I think the presence of knocked on the first door she came women of color is important in any to; when a man opened the door, she woman-centered organization if it asked for help and he said, "do you challenges notions of white femi- really think that you'd be safer in nism and expands the working here than out there." He shut the agenda. I also work on the line, be- door. cause I want other women of color That night empowered me tremen- to know that I am there. dously as a woman. As a woman of Most importantly, I am there be- color, it saddened me a great deal. I cause of my own personal experience knew several women of color who with rape culture -- I was in a batter- had been assaulted but did not feel ing relationship for some time and empowered to speak, did not feel have survived. If I can do nothing empowered to move from the protec- else with that experience, I can at tive shadows of the crowd. The rea- least take what I once thought was a son for this reticence became all too weakness and make it into a clear at the end of the March. strength. That's why I'm on the When we neared what students line. there called "Club" row, the men on the street were ready for us. They had Sharon Holland is a graduate student been sitting outside drinking and par- in the English Department and a tying for four hours. They yelled, member of SAPAC's 24 hour crisis "Go get raped" at the marchers, line. Please call 763-5865 for information about volunteering on the Crisis Line or other SAPAC services. If you need information or crisis intervention, please call 936-3333. Trained phone counsellors are available to assist survivors, their friends and family members. THIS ONE WILL CMAK SMLLIONS THIS ONG W1LL COST BILLIONS. Activist goes to jail Anyone who chooses to go to jail owes the community an explanation. Today I begin serving a 10-day sen- tence in the county jail, a result of my recent conviction on charges of disturbing the peace at the Duderstadt inauguration last fall and my subse- quent refusal to participate in a de- ferred sentencing program. This pro- gram - which consists of paying a fine and doing community service - admittedly sounds far more palatable than incarceration. However, the cir- cumstances surrounding both my conviction and sentencing made it impossible for me to accept this penalty. For me, at this particular moment, taking a position of peace- ful non-compliance serves as an act of resistance. Much of the University commu- nity remembers me as the Daily writer who was beaten by the Ann Arbor police during the inaugural demonstration, and then arrested six days later on charges of assault and battery and disturbing the peace. Perhaps understandably, the irony of my criminal charges (I was finally acquitted of the assault and battery charge) overshadowed the issues that I originally hoped to publicize. These issues are still relevant. As an academic scientist, I oppose the militarization of the University through research contracts with the Department of Defense and President Duderstadt's support for and partici- pation in such research. As a teacher, I oppose rules that limit the political expression of my own students and are enforced by the creation of cam- pus deputies. As I face the sober re- ality of going to jail, I am reminded again of these original issues. I hope that my brief absence from the community will refresh everyone's collective memory: scientific re- search that maims and kills, non- democratic decision-making by unac- countable administrators, and in- creased campus police power are still issues worth fighting. The circumstances of my trial be- came for me another potent reason for taking a position of non-compli- ance. A confidential written memo obtained by my attorney documents that Ann Arbor police officers are instructed to arrest anyone they in- jure. This evidence was declared inadmissible by the judge. The jury was not allowed to see editorials I had authored critical of the police and University security. Even my origi- nal attorney was not allowed to tes- tify. I can no more respect the deci- sions that come out of such judicial process than I can respect the deci- sion-making that erected Duderstadt as our supreme governor in the first place. Finally, I am unable to contribute either money or labor to a system that supports itself by prosecuting the poor and the underclass of our community. I saw people hauled away to jail who were the sole fi- nancial contributors to their fami- lies. This same court then ordered me to work 72 involuntary hours for a city which cannot even provide ad- equate jobs and housing for its own citizens. Such a sentence invalidates my concept of service. For me at this moment, the bot- tom line is that I will not be intimi- dated by the specter of jail into ac- cepting a penalty which forces me to contribute money or labor to a sys- tem that victimizes so many of us. Going to jail is my way of just say- ing no. Undoubtedly, many people will disagree with this position. I would welcome responses from both supporters and detractors. And Mr. Duderstadt, I haven't heard a word from you all year: I managed to finish my dissertation during the week of my trial - maybe I have the credentials to talk to you now. Why don't you drop me a line in jail? - Sandra Steingraber Washtenaw County Jail July 31, 1989