The Women’s and Gender Studies Program is hosting an important campus event to raise awareness about reporting sexual assault on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in Cowles Library, Room 201 (the “fishbowl”). Students have said they want to hear from local professionals, and we have listened! The panelists at this discussion will help students understand their rights when they wish to seek medical attention and/or call the police when they have experienced or witnessed a crime. Our goal is to raise awareness about support networks outside of Drake and to demystify the reporting process so that students feel confident contacting off-campus advocates and/or calling the police when they witness or experience a crime.

Panelists include:

• Mandy Schiefert RN, Manager, Methodist Emergency Department
• Lynne Cornelius, Advocate & Counselor, Polk County Crisis & Advocacy
• Sergeant Mark McKinney, Des Moines Police Department
  Mary Howell Sirna, Attorney and current advisor to ISU police

Questions we’ll answer:

If I am (or my friend is) assaulted on campus…

• What happens if I call 911?
• How should I preserve evidence?
• What happens if I go to the hospital?
• Who can come with me to an ER?
• What happens when I see a doctor or nurse?
• What is involved in pressing charges against an attacker?

This event is co-sponsored by Drake University’s Title IX Coordinator, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Violence Intervention Partner (VIP) in collaboration with Women’s and Gender Studies.

—Katie Overberg, Title IX