21st Century Student Voice

By Ryan Clark

Perfectionism drives a number of students at the University of Richmond to lose weight instead of gaining the "freshman 15," Westhampton College Dean Juliette Landphair said in an interview last week at the Deanery.

The "freshman 15" that some college students gain has become more like five pounds for women or seven pounds for men, according to a recent Brown University research study.

The study revealed that one out of six freshmen gained 10 pounds or more during their first year and 6 percent gained 15 pounds or more, Stanford University nutritionist Vivian Crisman said. A joint study by Brown University and Purdue University revealed that students continue to gain two to three pounds in their sophomore year, Crisman said.

On average by the end of sophomore year, males are 9.5 pounds heavier and women are 9.2 pounds heavier, said Jackie Beckham, a Baylor University research assistant. The Brown University study showed that freshmen men gain most of their weight at the beginning of the first semester and then gradually gain more weight, but women tend to gain most of their weight in the first semester and then slowly even off, Beckham said.

It's important to adopt a healthy lifestyle because college is the time when students establish eating and fitness habits that they'll follow for the rest of their lives, said Pete Anderson, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Many students find it hard to eat healthily because it's the first time many of them have lived away from home, said Patricia Beffa-Negrini, a University of Massachusetts research associate. Students want to explore their freedom and there is no one to stop them from eating brownies, ice cream and French fries for dinner, Bethesda, Md. dietitian Ann Litt said to USA Today.

College students also have hectic and irregular schedules, she said, and they tend to graze instead of actually sitting down for a meal. An article from the Seattle Post- Intelligencer revealed that portion control was one of the most critical strategies in maintaining weight in buffet-style dining halls where the food supply is endless.

"Most adults don't know what a typical portion size is," said Dr. Alene H. Waller, the University of Richmond associate medical director. It's easier to regulate weight when you pay attention to portion control, she said.

But dining hall food is not the only reason that college freshman tend to gain weight, Crisman said. A change in eating behaviors and habits is a great contributor to weight gain, she said.

The cause of freshman weight gain is a combination of late-night snacking, easy access to alcohol, social eating and less exercise, Crisman said. The stress of living away from home and going to class can also take a toll on freshmen, Beffa-Negrini said.

Many students eat because they are sad, lonely or bored and food comforts them, she said.

"Unless you want to be a Sumo wrestler, don't eat at night," Beckham said.

Many students snack late at night after drinking. Students must watch out for alcohol's appetite-enhancing effects, said Pittsburgh nutritionist Leslie Bonci.

Access to beer, drinking habits, and not having enough time to get to the gym all cause collegeweight gain, University of Richmond junior Renee Wilson said.

In order to avoid weight gain, Bonci recommended that students eat breakfast every day, focus on portion control by always measuring food out, never eat out of a bag and to set limits when eating with friends.

Trying to lose weight seems to be an issue bothering students at Richmond, said Peter LeViness, the director of Counseling and Psychological Services. CAPS' mental health surveys revealed that about 20 percent of male undergraduates and 50 to 60 percent of female undergraduates said that they often had concerns about dieting or trying to lose weight, he said.

Many students gain weight because they are taking in more calories than they are burning off, LeViness said. "An inconsistent sleep-wake schedule may also increase food cravings, especially for high-calorie foods," he said.

"Students cut back on their physical activity when they get to college and you hear much more concern about people trying to lose weight," University of Richmond sophomore Ali Scuderi said. "You do see quite a few people who could have eating disorders."

CAPS recommends that students try to exercise about four to six times a week,
LeViness said. Students should treat this time like an academic class that they make a priority during the week, he said.

Most students who want to lose weight at Richmond are not seeking to lose a lot of it, but just enough to get back to a weight where they feel comfortable, said Carolyn Powell the University of Richmond nutritionist. "Most of the students I see for weight gain are athletes who have trouble keeping on weight from all of the calories they are burning," she said.

John Denton, Richmond sophomore, said: "I think that more guys gain weight in college than girls. Guys want to look buffer and eat a lot of protein, while girls want to have a thin ideal body."

Weight loss is a bigger issue than weight gain at Richmond because many students are driven by perfectionism, Landphair said. "Like Duke and more selective institutions, students here tend to be more perfectionistic," she said.

In a 2003 Duke University report, undergraduates said their social atmosphere was characterized by "effortless perfection," Landphair said. Students felt there was an expectation to be "smart, accomplished, fit, beautiful and popular, and that all this would happen without visible effort," she said.

Rebecca Bacheler, Richmond sophomore, said, "There is a lot of stress because of the pressure put on by the intense academics here, which definitely causes more drinking and over eating or an excess of working out to relieve stress resulting in weight loss."

Whenever students are prescribed medication, their biggest concern is whether it will make them gain weight, Waller said.

Landphair didn't see the issue of weight as a big problem at Richmond despite this research, she said. If it posed a threat to many students, the university would have addressed it, she said.

Some students gain weight because of inconsistent eating patterns where parents aren't regulating meals, and alcohol use, Landphair said.

An extra 100 calories can lead to a 10-pound weight gain in one year, Powell said.
There are "Feeding Fitness" options in each dining location on campus that label food choices containing 30 percent or fewer calories from fat per serving, Powell said. "With the opening of the newly renovated Heilman Dining Center we concentrated on updating our menu and offering a wide variety of healthier items," she said.

Students gain weight by eating on the go, Richmond Health Educator Tracy Cassalia said. Students eat very little throughout the day and then are starving at night, she said.

Drinking is another source of empty calories, Cassalia said. Even though it says "light beer," it still has calories, she said. Being able to drink beer three nights a week can make it difficult for some students to maintain their weight, Amy Bastianelli, Richmond senior, said.

But part of adulthood is learning to live independently and how to use self control, Landphair said.

Richmond used to include physical education as a general education requirement, but with the Weinstein Center there is no need for that anymore, Landphair said.

Even though students do not have to complete a physical education course at Richmond, they are required to complete wellness classes before they graduate, Cassalia said.

"Richmond is ahead of the game compared to some bigger schools," Cassalia said.

Students can meet with nutritionist Carolyn Powell or work with personal trainers, she said.

The opening of the Weinstein Center has inspired students to stay fit, Powell said.
"Just getting to the gym is the hardest part," she said. "Having a new facility, which leaves such a positive impression, definitely helps keep students motivated and keeps them coming back for more."

Seattle University lets students receive a physical assessment and then work with faculty to create a workout plan. The university is working on receiving computer chips that will plug into equipment for students to track their physical progress, said Mclean Reiter, the manager and sports physiologist at Seattle University.

"We are currently working on a partnership with the hospital, where the lab is located, to allow the clients and students to use the Technogym equipment," Reiter said.

"Technogym is an exercise equipment company that interfaces with a smart card."

The smart chip acts as a type of personal trainer that tells students how many sets and reps they need to do, Reiter said. If a student doesn't complete the number of reps set by the chip, it will recalculate for the next workout, he said.

Columbia University's online system called the "100 m.i.l.e. (miles I logged exercising) club," inspires students to workout at least 100 minutes per week, according to the article. Students log the minutes they spend exercising on the internet. "I’ve been more diligent about working out since the new gym opened," University of Richmond sophomore Alex Hogan said. "It has much more availability for machines, space and the times it is open."

One of the most important aspects of college is becoming aware of eating and fitness habits because adults who start putting on weight at a young age have a hard time losing it later, Waller said.

By Amy Burlage 

Teams can also hold fundraisers. Gill said that the crew team recently raised$52,000 in a fundraiser. The club sports program recently started an annual letter-writing fundraiser to friends and family of club members requesting donations to their team, Recreation and Wellness Director Tom Roberts said in a telephone interview.

"We are going to continue to try and increase funding, to look for new ways to
distribute funds," Roberts said.

The more participation a sport has, the easier it is to get funding, Celander said. Sports teams with representation on the executive council (ice hockey, women's water polo, rugby and crew) get an inside view to funding and therefore know when and who to ask for money, he said.

"The Sports Club Council is made up of four elected positions and the most interested clubs get represented," he said. "It hurts other clubs because clubs on the council know when the money is around before it gets exhausted."

Next year there will be an additional $10,000 set aside for travel safety, according to the Funding and Distribution chart.

Celander said the clubs need more money so they have options for how to spend it. Patrick Hyde, the secretary of the council, agreed, and said the new travel budget is the biggest improvement he has seen in his UR career because it allows more flexibility with annual and raised funds to be spent on facilities, equipment and other needs.

Until now, the school administrators have charged 40 cents per mile for two 12- passenger vans and an Expedition, which offer limited use to club sports as well as outside organizations such as the debate team, according to Alec Smith, treasurer of the council and former crew team president.

"Renting a charter bus can cost a team up to $4,000, and students caravanning pose a huge risk," said Smith.

Four to five UR teams travel across the country, and a few have gone to national tournaments, but more teams would be able to go with more transportation funding, according to Gill.

Elizabeth Simpson, the vice president of the council and president of the Women's Water Polo team, said: "The (College of) Notre Dame water polo team travels to the West Coast every spring break and when they come back to the East Coast, they have so much more experience and beat all the East Coast teams€¦UR teams are competitive but they can't win districts or nationals without travel funding."

The women's water polo team has been able to travel to Puerto Rico, the University of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida and Tennessee in recent years, according to Simpson. As Celander found out shortly after arriving at UR, teams such as ice hockey require individuals to pay $1,000 dues so that they can have opportunities to travel to places such as Atlanta, Florida, Arizona and Pittsburgh.

Only when all of the Sports Club funding is exhausted are teams able to seek other resources for money, according to Hyde. The Richmond Dean's Office funded the men's rugby team to travel to regional championships, he said. Increasing funding and support is "always difficult" but it is becoming easier because the large percent of students involved makes club sports more visible to the administration, Roberts said. He says that the administration realizes the benefits of club sports to the university, and is satisfied with their support.

"Tom Roberts is bringing about attention to sports clubs around the university," Gill said. "The publicity is showing the influence club sports play on campus."

Gill says that the current funds are finally reaching an adequate level where every club gets represented fairly based on how much work they put in, and the university is "very supportive" in encouraging them to continue growing.

Amelia Wolfe, the recreation and wellness office manager, said that quality club sports that offer opportunities to travel and compete at more intense levels are extremely important in terms of students deciding on UR and retaining them.

Gill said club sports are becoming "more and more essential" for incoming students, most of whom were varsity athletes in high school and want the opportunity to continue playing without the stress of a collegiate varsity team.

"Some kids won't even consider a school without a club program," Celander said.

Beyond the physical and mental benefits of a club team, members find a social network away from Greek life that they immediately connect with, according to Hyde. Students become closer with their teammates by working hard for a common goal, he said.
Student support is very large for club sports, and that shows with almost perfect club attendance at all meetings, said Roberts.

The most obvious sign of increasing support is the construction of the Weinstein Recreation and Wellness Center, said Roberts. This building will have a club lounge with work stations, mailboxes, storage and a place for clubs to meet and hang out, he said. It will also have a gymnasium and multipurpose room for club practices. Although UR has struggled to create a credible and strong club sports program in its recent history, the community is currently filled with club sports enthusiasts and administration and students who are dedicated to creating a great program for the future of the university, Gill said.

Now that Celander is graduating from the University of Richmond, he gets asked the frightening question for college seniors; "Where are you going to get a job?" The same thing that was on his mind while choosing colleges still has an impact on his career choice: ice hockey. Celander said that he talks about the 106 games he played at UR in every single job interview he attends. Club hockey has not only been a resume builder, he said, but a way for potential employers to get a look at his character and leadership abilities.

For many students, club sports are more than just exercise.

"Being part of a club sport is an important way to keep a balanced life€¦ to take a break from the overwhelming work most of us have," said Simpson.

By Ashley Nerz

Before Facebook.com, there was not one place that college and high school students could rely on to make instant friends, join clubs, advertise events, share photo albums and keep in touch with old friends.

Now, many students at colleges and high schools nationwide can not keep themselves away from the online friend directory created two years ago by Harvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg. Whether they are looking up a friend's contact information, sending someone a message, poking their secret crush, or just taking a study break, students find themselves spending a lot of their free time on Facebook.

"It definitely wastes a lot of time," said Daria Luddy, a senior at the University of Richmond and a member of Facebook since October 2004. But "if it wasn't Facebook, I would find something else to distract me."

Kyle Bullock, also a senior and Facebook member since October 2004, said that Facebook distracts him "because they keep putting more stuff on it, like pictures."

The photo album feature was added to Facebook late last fall.

The "Facebook Team" is always adding features to the directory, which Richmond students embrace quickly. The newest addition during spring was the ability to post events on the website. The Kappa Sigma fraternity used this feature to invite students to "Carlo's Super Sweet Sixteen Party" at Bar 321 in downtown Richmond . Aside from the new features and the time wasted on Facebook, many students use it for contact information. They often use the site to look up fellow undergraduates' phone numbers, dorm rooms and screen names.

"It makes life a lot easier because of the contact information," said Luddy. Members of Facebook also have the opportunity to share their marital status, political views, date of birth, interests, hobbies, favorite music, favorite movies, quotes and class schedules. Facebook "allows you to learn more about people you know," said Luddy.

Even sophomore Josh Tabb, a student who is not a member of Facebook, confessed that he is familiar with the site. Although he said he never got around to joining Facebook, he often finds himself sharing his friends' accounts. "I use it mostly just to look at pictures," he said. "Like when people come up in conversation and I don't know who they are."

Sophomore Mike Stubbs, a member of Facebook since October 2004, decided not to use Facebook for a month because of Lent. He also gave up America Online Instant Messenger.

"I did it because Facebook and AIM waste a substantial amount of time that I could be doing other things. I also wanted to develop more personal relationships," said Stubbs.

He ended up encountering a lot of challenges.

"I had a group project to do and I had to find out who my partners were without it. The little things on Facebook are a huge convenience," said Stubbs.

Another feature of Facebook that Stubbs missed was the birthday reminders that Facebook gives every day.

At Richmond, there are 4,375 registered users, according to Chris Hughes, a spokesperson for Facebook.com. As more students continue to rely on Facebook to contact each other and get to know each other at Richmond, some administrators are showing concern for students because of the potential dangers it can bring to their reputations and privacy.

"Students don't necessarily realize that it can be dangerous because we are all a big happy society," said Chris Faigle, a campus network security specialist. "I really wish more people knew how public Facebook is. If you ever run for president, whoever can sell the information on your profile will be offered $100,000."

Anyone with an .edu email address can join Facebook and request friendship with other members. If they have a richmond.edu email address, they automatically have access to all other member profiles with a richmond.edu address. Therefore, not only Richmond students, but Richmond faculty, staff and alumni have access to all Richmond Facebook profiles unless a member has personalized privacy restrictions on their account. A section on Facebook.com titled "My Privacy" offers its members the option to make their profiles visible to only their friends or everyone with a Richmond.edu
account. The section says that "We built Facebook to make it easy to share information with your friends and people around you. We understand you may not want everyone in the world to have the information you share on Facebook; that is why we give you control of your information." Many students do not know about the "My Privacy" section.

Bullock said he had no idea he had those options. Luddy said she found out about these options when she was a Rho Gamma for sorority recruitment and wanted her profile to only be visible to her friends.

Lt. Adrienne Meador of the campus police department is concerned about students putting contact information on their profiles because it is a public site. She said on Facebook there is a lot of trust, "but you're giving people access to where you live. I don't think that's a good idea."

"What students don't know is that you can find all of the contact information that is on Facebook, like dorm rooms and phone extensions, through the online campus directory," said Faigle. These tools can be found on the "search" of the University of Richmond website under the option "Search for People at the University." Only registered users on campus have access to this feature so that all of the information is safe. Meador said she thought the reason students do not utilize these university tools is because they are lazy.

Katybeth Dreisbach, a counselor at the Career Development Center and a member of Facebook, said if students are going to post a lot of information on Facebook, they should look at it as a representation of their reputation. She said someone once said that "Anything you put online is public information. Someone once used this phrase to judge what to put on Facebook, €˜Would you put it on a billboard for your Grandma to see?'" Dreisbach participated in a program in the fall through the Westhampton Deanery called "Whose Facebook is it Anyway?" The program aimed to educate students on the potential dangers of Facebook, as well as who was on Facebook. Dreisbach is particularly concerned with potential employers on Facebook.

"What is happening is that very young alums taking part in recruiting will look up potential employers on Facebook. A former Richmond student who now works at a big investment bank uses Facebook. They want Richmond to be represented well," she said.

After discovering that potential employers could see his profile, Bullock said that he was worried and he was going to delete his whole profile.

"I'm worried because of the clubs I am in, like €˜Marijuana,' €˜Beta Mu Delta' and €˜No Ma'am," he said. "Beta Mu Delta" is a marijuana fan club that stands for "Blaze Me Down," while "No Ma'am" is a males-only club that states, "If you like hanging out with dudes (and only dudes) and drinking beers, then this is the club for you."

Luddy, on the other hand, was not worried about potential employers seeing her profile.

"I'm personally not because there is nothing on there that is incriminating. It is not necessary for them to look at it because it is more college-oriented. It does not speak to a person's skills for employment," she said.

Both Bullock and Luddy said that no one ever warned them about potential employers checking their Facebook profiles during their senior year. In fact, aside from the "Whose Facebook is it Anyway?" program in the fall, most of the University of Richmond administration is not actively doing anything about Facebook. Both the police department and network security said they are concerned for the students' safety, but do not police Facebook.

"You certainly don't want to have a lot of opinions on there that a lot of people are going to hate," said Faigle. He advises students not to post anything on the internet to be safe. However, he said network security will not tell students what they can and can not post on Facebook.

"As long as you don't have something highly illegal on there, I don't care," he said.

Campus police have not used Facebook to investigate any cases to date, but Meador said officers will definitely use Facebook in an investigation if they think that it will be helpful.

"The way that you express yourself is up to you as long as you aren't doing anything incriminating," said Meador. "On the flipside, I hope some students are stupid enough to put incriminating things up."

While no one is actively policing Facebook profiles, many Richmond coaches suggest that athletes do not post any pictures related to drinking on their Facebook profiles. However, the athletic department does not have any specific rules that censor Facebook. Sophomore Lawerence Lessing, a member of the golf team, said athletic administrators sent an email to the athletes telling them to be careful about their information on Facebook.

"I think it's kind of ridiculous that the athletic department does this because it has nothing to do with our sport or team and it should be up to us what we want to put on there," said Lessing.

Stubbs, a member of the track team, said his coaches do not know about Facebook.

"Due to an incident with Webshots last fall, the team has put one and one together to know what to put on Facebook and what not to," he said.

Webshots.com is an online database for anyone to post their digital pictures for the public to see. No members of the track and team would comment further about the Webshots incident.

Sophomore Ali LeVine, a member of the women's soccer team, cancelled her Facebook membership after receiving warnings from her coaches.

"I quit Facebook because I didn’t want to have to worry about who besides my friends was looking at my information or pictures. The benefits didn’t outweigh the risks," she said. "I’m sure all coaches care deeply about their players and only want the best for those players and the program."

Sorority members at Richmond have clear restrictions on their Facebook profiles. They are not allowed to post pictures with alcohol or refer to alcohol in their profiles. According to Courtney Kwiatkowski, the Panhellenic president, the policy was started last year because of the national rules established by the sororities on campus. There is no similar policy for fraternities.

"It is to protect the images of our sororities and their members," she said. "Many chapters at other schools are doing the same thing."

Chapter presidents are encouraged by Panhellenic to check their members' profiles for alcohol-related material.

"They don't want any evidence against their chapter. If you think of it from a liability perspective, it's a good idea," said Meador.

Not everyone agrees.

"I understand why because you don't want to give Greek life a bad reputation. I feel like it's censoring something that is going to happen anyways. It's unnecessary and ridiculous," said Luddy, a member of Pi Beta Phi.

Bullock, a member of Kappa Sigma, said: "It's pretty ridiculous. We're in college; get over it."

Athletes and sorority members at Richmond are among many college students nationwide who have restrictions on their Facebook accounts. According to an April 27 article in the University of South Florida's "The Oracle," athletes at Loyola University Chicago are not allowed to have Facebook accounts. Athletes at Florida State University are encouraged to "rethink" what they post on Facebook. As the issue continues to grow,
more universities are acting cautiously about what their students can include in their Facebook profiles.

Despite the many concerns about Facebook, it still helps many students network. "One of the greatest things about Facebook is that it is all about networking and networking is what makes the world go round," said Dreisbach.

Luddy said: "I'm Facebook friends with people I met at interviews. It helps you keep a connection with people you meet for a day and hit it off with."

As students at Richmond keep up with the growth of Facebook and embrace its new features, the virtual friend network shows no signs of fading.

By Victoria Byrum

Her story began like this:

"I was at a party at a UFA and I was drinking. It was a Friday night. I ended up upstairs in one of the bedrooms with a friend and a bunch of people I didn't know. We ended up passing around a bottle of alcohol, and one by one people trickled out until it was just me and four guys I didn't know.

"Pretty soon I was the only one drinking, and somehow I ended up on one of the beds kissing a guy. Then I blacked out. I had had enough to drink that I had no idea what happened. The first thing I remember is waking up facing a wall I didn't recognize, on a futon I didn't know. I was still drunk enough things weren't really coherent, I didn't really know what was happening. I realized I was in a pair of clothes that weren't mine, and I was next to a guy I didn't know. I got up, went upstairs, and found my clothes in the bedroom. I put them on and he drove me back to LoRo. I went up to my room and slept for two days.

"I wasn't entirely sure what had happened till I talked with my roommate who had been at the party. She told me we had definitely had sex. I believed her completely. More than one person had seen us, and no one had tried to stop it or even said anything. All I ever ended up knowing was his first name.

"I never said a word. I didn't want to think about it or deal with it. This is probably the first time I told the entire story to anyone, and it's been over two years."

This story, told by a University of Richmond class of 2007 woman, is far more common than many students might think.

A report by the National Institute of Justice titled, "The Sexual Victimization of College Women," states that "women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year."

Kerry Fankhauser, the Westhampton College assistant dean, said the University of Richmond probably has upwards of 150 rapes per year. University police reported six accounts of forcible sex offenses between 2002 and 2004.

Neither Patrick Benner, the assistant dean of Richmond College resident life, or Angie Harris, the Westhampton College assistant dean of resident life, could recall a rape report that had gone through the university judicial system.

Benner described what would happen if a student ever did report to the deanery, saying, "If there ever were a case, we would first notify the victim of all of their options, then let them make the decision about how to proceed."

Harris also leaves the decision up to the victim.

"Our greatest concern is the victim's well being," she said. "We offer them more of a supportive environment than anything else, encouraging them to write letters to their assailants or other helpful things."

Though the students may not report to the police, both deaneries are legally obligated to disclose the number of victims who visit them.

The Student Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services, on the other hand, have no legal obligation to report to police, as both adhere to a confidentiality clause.

Peter LeViness, the director of CAPS, said, "The only time we would ever report to the police would be if the assailant were a stranger from off-campus, or a repeat offender, a threat to students' safety."

CAPS may not disclose numbers to the police, but they do record the reasons that students use the center.

According to LeViness, since 2004, only three students have visited CAPS regarding sexual assault or rape. An anonymous survey conducted by CAPS this past spring showed that 9.8 percent of women and 3.9 percent men
who took the survey had been sexually assaulted while a student at the university. These low numbers, LeViness explained, may be due to the low response rate of the student body or because the phrase €˜sexual assault' was not clearly defined.

"At the very least, the numbers are usually an underestimate," he said. "Plus, students more distressed would have been less likely to take the survey."

Dan Fabian, the Richmond College assistant dean and faculty head of Stealing Home, an on-campus organization that deals with assault, believes that drinking is the biggest issue regarding sex offenses.

"Nationally," Fabian said, "71 percent of men and 51 percent of women involved in sexual assaults were drinking at the time. You can have sex. Just don't mix it with drugs and alcohol. It will be better anyway."

Lt. Adrienne Meador, a University of Richmond police investigator who specializes in on-campus sexual assault cases, believes that, "alcohol use leads to a significant amount of self-blame. Victims fall into stereotypes, thinking, €˜I knew better'."

Kate Harmon, the student president of Stealing Home, says that alcohol not only shifts blame, but could remove it entirely.

"People don't know what happened to them was wrong," she said, describing how alcohol not only lowers
inhibitions, but cognitive abilities as well. Still, Harmon argues, "If you do it (rape), you do it. Who cares if you're drunk?"

While the use of alcohol by victims may discourage students from reporting rapes or sexual assaults, it is not the only factor that faculty and students cite. Time was another issue continuously brought up.

"Most people do not respond immediately. They take a few months to process what happened," Fabian said.

Juliette Landphair, the dean of Westhampton College, also addressed the time barrier.

"Months or even years later, they [victims] have not sought out support. Because they haven't addressed it, their lives fall apart, mentally and academically," she said. Other circumstances also affect the rate of reporting on campus. Fankhauser, a sexual assault survivor, sees the apathy on campus as another hindrance.

"Students here get so overwhelmed and focused in on themselves instead of looking out at what's going on," she said, emphasizing the lack of student involvement in sexual assault issues. "What is going to get people going? Getting a community perspective. This is a community. You live here for four years. Look outside yourself and take ownership."

Richmond College officials have struggled with ways to educate men.

"You'd have a really good speaker or RA program, and no one would attend," Steve Bisese, said the former Richmond College dean who now is vice president for student development.

"Students choose not to attend these events," he continued, describing how even resident assistants were often forced to go to their own programs.

"I am a huge fan of students taking charge. It takes a passionate student to have a rallying cry," Bisese said.

Educating men about sexual assault is vital, administrators agree. According to Fabian, a national survey conducted in 2001 showed that one in four men would rape a woman if they knew that there would be no consequences.

"Men are primarily the perpetrators, whether the victim is male or female, so it only makes sense that we educate them," Fankhauser said.

According to Fabian, who is also an orientation coordinator, Stealing Home had asked the University of Richmond Players to perform a play called "Think Again." This play consists of multiple scenarios that depict rapes on a college campus, and is shown separately to males and females.

"Men, especially when they are 18, become uncomfortable when this issue is brought up," Fabian said. "They laugh, which would be detrimental to women in the audience." Fabian said this particular aspect of orientation will not be changing in the near future, though the structure of the play itself will.

This year, a new campus group called S.A.R.T, or the Sexual Assault Response Team, began work. According to organizer Kate Harmon, this team consists of seven University of Richmond students who have been trained through the Richmond YWCA in sexual assault and rape responses. These students carry a pager 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which will be used when a student reports to the police or CAPS. The S.A.R.T member on call will serve as an advocate for the victim, providing emotional support and a medium through which to communicate.

"It's easier to talk to someone your age than, say, an assistant dean," Harmon said.

Jessie Dorne, a S.A.R.T member, says that most people can't articulate what happened, or decide what to do in their situation. S.A.R.T.'s job will be to help them through the process.

S.A.R.T officially began the week after Spring Break, but Harmon says it has yet to be used. One explanation for this is the difficulty of publicizing such a program.

"It's hard to do a Spiderbyte saying, €˜Have you been assaulted?'," Harmon said. University police Lt. Adrienne Meador also says that the idea of peers knowing what happened may be potentially problematic.

"One problem would be from a privacy perspective," she said. "Victims may not want their peers involved, especially on a campus this small."

Stealing Home has also begun a forum called Saturday Nights, where victims are given the opportunity to anonymously express their experiences. These expressions can be written accounts of their stories, poems, drawings, songs, or any other form of self expression. The initiative, Fabian explained, began as a website for Duke, and was adapted for University of Richmond students. Fankhauser, who has been involved in the Saturday Nights effort, says that the school hopes to publish a booklet of Richmond's contributions to distribute among students by the spring of next year.

The university administration has also attempted to raise the reporting rate of rape on campus. Harris developed a new, anonymous reporting website for students to record their experiences. Instead of going to the police or the health center, students can formally report what happened without feeling pressured to decide what action to take next.

"It's hard to separate steps like tests and police reports from, €˜I have to make a decision'. It's all so overwhelming," Harris explained.

Fankhauser agrees that this new system of reporting is a great new development.

"Students don't realize that reporting doesn't have to mean pressing charges," Fankhauser said.

Also under development is a plan for what will be known as the Westhampton Center, a $3 million building project. Landphair says that the center will be attached to the current Westhampton deanery, and will house numerous new resources for Westhampton women. One of these resources includes the Westhampton College
Resource Director, a new administrator whose job will be to handle issues of rape and sexual assault.

"We know that campuses that deal with this best have a professional staff member whose sole responsibility is to deal with this," Landphair explained. The center is in its initial fundraising stages.

The underreporting of rape is not a problem exclusive to the University of Richmond. Information included in a sexual assault pamphlet distributed by Stealing Home said that, according to the FBI, rape is the number one most underreported violent crime in the nation. There is no one solution that might fix this problem, though certain steps can be taken in order to lessen the severity of it.

"I think what people need to realize is how long lasting the effects of something like this may be," the class of 2007 rape victim said. "Even if you try and push it to the back of your mind, it doesn't go away. And it's something you don't realize right away but it happens. It's important to deal with it right away, and save yourself a lot of pain."