Palomba and her outreach group from “Jane Doe No More“ with Fairfield representatives conduct a panel addressing matters about sexual assault both on and off campus.
Break stigmas.
End silence.
These are the actions, advised by Jane Doe No More founder Donna Palomba, that will help improve the way our society responds to victims of sexual assault.
Palomba spoke to Fairfield students about her goals regarding sexual assault last Thursday in the Gonzaga Auditorium.
Jane Doe No More, a non-profit organization, was established by Palomba in 2007. It aims to affect the way in which communities and individuals deal with and respond to victims of sexual assault. A victim of assault herself, Palomba and her team came to campus to speak on the prevalence and danger involved in this crime.
College students often think that they will never become victims of sexual assault. Yet every two minutes, someone is sexually assaulted, according to Palomba.
The young women told their horrific stories and stressed the importance of raising your voice should you ever become a victim.
Kristen Palmer, one of the three speakers, took several years to speak to anyone about her assault. After she spoke about it, 11 other women stepped forward. Her perpetuator is now facing 27 years behind bars.
“Because of my voice, I have saved many other women,” said Palmer of the incident.
Kate, another speaker, advised students to be more aware of their online presence and limit the amount of information they give. She was targeted through Myspace.
“Please be careful with what you put on there because sexual predators don’t stop looking,” said Kate.
The panel at the presentation educated the audience about the areas around campus that provide assistance to those who are victims of sexual assault, or who simply want to talk about the issue.
The Health Center, located in Dolan Hall, is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. There is a women’s health clinic that is available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 pm and is located in the Health Center.
The Fairfield Counseling and Psychological Services, also located in the Health Center, are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Fairfield’s Campus Ministry also offers drop-in one-on-one counseling sessions.
Director of Department of Public Safety Todd Pelazza recounted a sexual assault that occurred at one of the beach houses. A female student had met a non-student at a party and saw no danger associated with him but then was attacked. The student went to the Health Center and reported what had happened.
The perpetrator was found to be guilty of assault and was sent to prison.
According to Palomba and her team, speaking out and coming forward was the most crucial decision that each of them made, a step that led them to their paths of recovery and helped save other women from the fate that they had once faced.
Palomba’s parting words gave Fairfield University students a new set of goals to achieve: “No more blame, no more shame, no more fear.”
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