Rape impacts people's lives daily, and even though students and faculty hate to think about it, SARN wants to show people that sexual assault can occur here.

One in every four women is sexually assaulted at one point during her life. This does not include the countless number of assaults that go unreported. Dispelling the myth that this could never happen at St. Olaf is the main focus of a group known as the Sexual Assault Resource Network.

SARN has made it their goal to educate the St. Olaf campus about the fact that sexual assault is a reality here on The Hill.

"Not enough people know or believe that it could happen here," said SARN member Nickie McKeever.

Two separate departments of the organization work to curtail sexual assault here at St. Olaf. The education committee works to inform people of the issues concerning these crimes. The second department, the advocacy department, consists of extensively trained people who handle calls and cases of sexual assault.

The groups work together to bring an understanding of sexual assault to the campus. Every year, SARN members sponsor programs for first-year students which inform them about the facts and statistics surrounding subjects such as date rape. Also, the network is responsible for bringing in off-campus speakers to educate the student body, and each year sponsors a Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In their most important role, SARN advocates serve as people who listen to those who have had sexual assault impact their lives and give them advice on what to do.

"Much of what we do," said McKeever, a junior here at St. Olaf, "is aimed toward dispelling the many myths about rape and sexual assault. It doesn't only occur in dark allies to women who are wearing tight clothes." This stereotype is the main reason why people don't believe it could happen here. When the majority of people imagine a rapist, they think of a dark stranger who jumps out from behind a bush and sexually assaults a woman, but this is not the case. In fact, the overwhelming majority of rape survivors were assaulted by someone they knew and trusted. This is why many women find it hard to come forward and report the crime. They feel that somehow they are responsible.

SARN wants everyone to know that they are a resource available to all, whether someone was sexually assaulted yesterday and wants to report it as a crime, or someone was raped ten years ago and just needs someone to talk to. Friends of rape survivors can call too if they want to know how to get help. All calls remain confidential. Even if someone only has a question on the exact nature of sexual assault, SARN is there to answer it. On campus, all anyone has to do is dial x3777, and they will be connected to an educated SARN advocate.

Anyone interested in joining SARN and helping those who have had their lives affected by sexual assault should contact Elizabeth Johnston or Molly Swenson. Training for both advocates and educators will begin in early October.

If anyone ever needs advice or someone to talk to, SARN will have people waiting to help. "Our goal," says McKeever, "is to stop sexual assault at St. Olaf, and the only way to do that is through publicity and awareness." Be sure to watch for information concerning awareness meetings and special events concerning this important topic. A little knowledge can make the campus a safer place.