Vermont Cynic

Issue date: 12/5/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Various Photographers Clockwise from upper left corner: Adam Briere, Adam Briere, UVM police service, Burlington PD, UVM police services, Adam Briere, Austin Danforth, Burlington Free Press, Marielle Ludwig, Burlington Free Press, Marielle Ludwig, Burlington Free Press, Burlington Free Press, Shane Clark, UVM Police Services

Officer Sue Roberts uses the blunt edge of her fist to incapacitate an attacker, breaking their nose, temporarily stopping the assault. Although she is not fighting an actual perpetrator, the students taking the self-defense class still smile and giggle uncomfortably.

"We need to train ourselves to be more obnoxious... It's hard to get past the hurdle of striking back, of giving yourself permission to hit," Roberts said.

With the violent death of Michelle Gardener-Quinn and recent attacks in dorms, there is a wary feeling on campus, according to Roberts.

In 2004 there were seven forcible rapes and 19 nonforcible rapes, 26 sexual assaults
in total. Between 2003 and 2004, burglary rates dropped from 159 to 79, only to increase to 93 in 2005. Although there seems to be no steady increase in violence specifically in 2006, an increase in population at UVM leads to an increase in violence, Roberts said.

The UVM annual crime report does not include the number of anonymous reports, leading to incongruent numbers. Gender violence itself is under reported, women's center director LuAnne Rolley said.

Over the past year Rolley has seen increased numbers of students using the services provided by the women's center. "Even prior to Michelle's death we have seen an increase in students, but I know when students see things happening to a friend, that raises awareness," Rolley said.

Person X, who does not wish his identity to be revealed, is one of those victims. He was downtown by South Willard Street when a drunken man stumbled into him.

"I jokingly told him to watch where he was going and I asked what street I was on, because I didn't have my glasses. Instead of telling me, he hit me and said 'that will teach me to not be so rude next time,'" Person X said.

Continued...

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