Vigil Condemns Sexual Violence

Katie Koestner, national date rape prevention activist, wove descriptions of her own experience of being raped in her first year at William and Mary College throughout her speech to men and women assembled last night in Emerson Hall for Take Back The Night (TBTN) week.

Her speech was the cornerstone of week's programs to raise awareness about women's rights, sponsored by the Radcliffe Union of Students.

Koestner urged Harvard students who have been raped to speak out and others, especially men, to denounce rape.

Since her appearance on the cover of Time Magazine in June 1991, Koestner has appeared on television programs such as the "Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America" and "NBC Nightly News." Koestner has told her story and discussed "the crime of silence" at over 600 institutions.

She called on Harvard students to fight for a day without rape--citing a figure that in the United States, 1.3 women are raped every minute.

"Don't wait," Koestner said. "You're the best and the brightest. You're the leaders from the get-go. If anyone can make a difference, it's you."

Koestner, at times through tears, emphasized that rape happens everywhere, even at Harvard.

"I don't think it matters how smart the rapist is," she said. "In fact, the smarter the rapist is, the better to get away with it."

"I'm sorry to shock you, but you're not exempt. No one is invincible," she added. "It doesn't matter what their SAT scores are or what they want to be when they grow up."

The fact that only three or four rapes are reported at Harvard each year does not mean that more do not happen, Koestner said.

Responding to a question from the audience, she said Harvard could provide better support for rape victims by developing clearer rules and policies and improving resources for victims and assailants.

She also encouraged students continue to speak out about rape and against rape.

"I know the students who are wanting to make changes are feeling alone and tired, and they need your help," she said. "Please keep talking about sexual assault. When it is quiet, we allow it to happen."

Although a majority of the audience was women, there were almost two dozen men in attendance.

"It's really important, although TBTN is primarily a women's issue, to remember that sexual assault can happen to both genders," Lee-Sean Huang '02 said. "It is great to see that there were so many guys here tonight."

Koestner said that men can be most effective in preventing other men from committing rape.

"You men can make changes that I cannot," she said. "Ultimately, men have to challenge other men."

Members of the audience had mixed reactions to her focus on challenging men to oppose rape.

"It's very important that she addressed many of her comments to men," said Heather A. Brown, a student at Harvard Divinity School. "She is absolutely right that we need men to make a difference."

Others said her focus on men took power out of the hands of women.

"I thought her view of men as the only agents of change undermined her point and just wasn't true," Miranda S. Richmond '03 said.

Although Elizabeth F.M. Janiak '03 said she admired Koestner for speaking out about date rape, she also objected to her focus on men.

"I was deeply offended," she said. "I wondered if all the women in the audience should give up the fight."

Koestner's speech was followed by a candlelight vigil attended by more than 100 people. Students who had been raped and their friends and family members spoke about their own experiences.

TBTN organizers have also sponsored discussions about sexism, racism and abortion, in addition to planning dinners, movie screenings and a rape defense course. This weekend there will be a Take Back the River Run to remind the campus community that the river should always be safe for women.