Campus clinic to offer rape, assault services
Michele Ippolito
Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: News
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Rutgers-Newark has recently acquired services provided for victims of sexual assault and interpersonal violence. These services are provided for all surviving students, faculty and staff of any such crimes.
Family nurse practitioner and associate director of the Newark Health Center, Lynne S. Logatto, said the services originated on the New Brunswick campus. She feels it is important for students at R-N to also have access to such services because of the many misconception students have towards sexual assault.
"Many students who have been sexually assaulted don't even define it as sexual assault," Logatto said. "The survivors normally blame themselves. They take on all the negative feelings."
According to Rutgers University Police Department statistics, 14 crimes were actually reported to police over the period of 2003 through 2005, though the statistics of reported sexual assaults do not reflect merely as much as the actual number of victims.
Logatto stressed that "less than 5 percent of sexual assault incidents actually get reported" and this lets perpetrators off the hook and feeling as though they could get away with the crime again. Logatto explained that from the perpetrators point of view, it's never actually the sex. "It's an act of humiliation, control and domination," she said.
Walk-in hours are 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and a 24/7 hotline is available for victims by dialing (973)353-HELP. In a sexual assault case, victims will speak to either Logatto, Dr. Sandra Samuels, or Maryellen Kluxen, a registered nurse. All are trained sexual assault advocates and are prepared to provide information and options for victims.
One option, Logatto explained, is the Essex County Rape Care Center, which will provide free and confidential support by a trained advocate.
Another option for victims is to be taken to the emergency room where evidence is collected. But this does not mean the victim has to report the incident. The evidence stays in the county records for 30 days, but emergency room evidence can only be collected within five days of the victim being assaulted, Logato said.
The student can also speak to one of the trained advocates on campus for advice or counseling. They will also provide pregnancy and STD testing if requested, but there will be no evidence collected on campus.
For those who want to volunteer to assist victims, one can join Unity Theater. Unity Theater is a student group that does interactive presentations written and performed by students on campus. They perform scenarios based on issues including sexual assault.
Logatto emphasized that the purpose of all these services is to try and make it clear to students what defines a sexual assault, provide advice, help and care, to lay out options for victims and to present the myths and facts associated with these types of assaults.
"There seems to always be this need to blame the victim. We want to send a clear message that it is not the victim's fault. Rape is the only crime in which the victim is looked at as though it is their fault."
Family nurse practitioner and associate director of the Newark Health Center, Lynne S. Logatto, said the services originated on the New Brunswick campus. She feels it is important for students at R-N to also have access to such services because of the many misconception students have towards sexual assault.
"Many students who have been sexually assaulted don't even define it as sexual assault," Logatto said. "The survivors normally blame themselves. They take on all the negative feelings."
According to Rutgers University Police Department statistics, 14 crimes were actually reported to police over the period of 2003 through 2005, though the statistics of reported sexual assaults do not reflect merely as much as the actual number of victims.
Logatto stressed that "less than 5 percent of sexual assault incidents actually get reported" and this lets perpetrators off the hook and feeling as though they could get away with the crime again. Logatto explained that from the perpetrators point of view, it's never actually the sex. "It's an act of humiliation, control and domination," she said.
Walk-in hours are 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and a 24/7 hotline is available for victims by dialing (973)353-HELP. In a sexual assault case, victims will speak to either Logatto, Dr. Sandra Samuels, or Maryellen Kluxen, a registered nurse. All are trained sexual assault advocates and are prepared to provide information and options for victims.
One option, Logatto explained, is the Essex County Rape Care Center, which will provide free and confidential support by a trained advocate.
Another option for victims is to be taken to the emergency room where evidence is collected. But this does not mean the victim has to report the incident. The evidence stays in the county records for 30 days, but emergency room evidence can only be collected within five days of the victim being assaulted, Logato said.
The student can also speak to one of the trained advocates on campus for advice or counseling. They will also provide pregnancy and STD testing if requested, but there will be no evidence collected on campus.
For those who want to volunteer to assist victims, one can join Unity Theater. Unity Theater is a student group that does interactive presentations written and performed by students on campus. They perform scenarios based on issues including sexual assault.
Logatto emphasized that the purpose of all these services is to try and make it clear to students what defines a sexual assault, provide advice, help and care, to lay out options for victims and to present the myths and facts associated with these types of assaults.
"There seems to always be this need to blame the victim. We want to send a clear message that it is not the victim's fault. Rape is the only crime in which the victim is looked at as though it is their fault."
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