Get out. Get active.
april 
BEING THERE: Helping someone who has been sexually assaulted
by Emily Stansich
“Emily, can we talk? . . . I was raped.”
That statement hit me like a ton of bricks. What was I supposed to do? How was I supposed to react to my friend? I was concerned, but didn’t know the right thing to say. Obviously, I couldn’t undo what someone else had done.
Have you ever been in this situation? You want to say and do the “right thing,” but you have no idea what the “right thing” is. There is no “right thing,” but there are things that can be more helpful than others:
• Let your friend know you believe what s/he said and that what happened is not his/her fault. Many rape victims choose not to tell people because they feel that they will not be believed, or that they will be blamed for what happened. There is no action that deserves rape as a consequence.
• Give your friend control over the situation. Let your friend decide who knows about what happened and what is done about it. Letting your friend be in control of the situation includes not physically comforting (i.e. hugging) your friend unless your friend asks for comfort.
• Let your friend do the talking. Rape is a very hard thing to go through, and it may take your friend time to say everything that needs to be said.
• Be there for your friend. Your friend probably feels alone and uncertain about multiple things. So, let your friend know that you are there, and you will do whatever you can to help.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week is April 16th to April 21st.
To learn more about sexual assault:
Join Sigma Phi Epsilon Tuesday, April 17th at 7pm in Wriston for a viewing of the movie “Disclosure” starring Demi Moore and Michael Douglas.
Come to “Perceptions” at 7:30 pm in the Coffeehouse on Thursday, April 19th.
Feel free to look at the Clothesline Project and the Wall of Silence that have been set up around campus. Both were made by LU students who have been sexually assaulted.
GARDASIL: The HPV Vaccine
By Laura Rosenberg
Many of you may have heard of the new HPV vaccine, GARDASIL. However, with all of the different rumors floating around, it may be difficult to keep the facts straight. Therefore, in order to help students make an informed decision regarding whether or not to receive the vaccine, the following is some useful information that may answer your questions.
First, What is HPV?
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is currently infecting 20 million people in the United States. There are about 30 different strains of HPV that affect the genital area. Some strains are “high risk,” (Types 16 and 18) which may cause abnormal cells in the cervix and cervical cancer. Other strains are “low risk,” (Types 6 and 11) which can lead to genital warts on any of the sexual organs as well as abnormal, but non-cancerous changes in the cervix. Several other strains demonstrate no signs visible to the naked eye, but are still present in the carrier and may be passed to one’s sexual partner during genital contact.
A Little Information on Prevention of Cervical Cancer
For women, Pap tests are the best way to locate abnormal cells so they may be treated.
What is GARDASIL?
GARDASIL is a vaccine, given in 3 doses, which helps protect against four specific strains of HPV (Types 6 and 11 and Types 16 and 18).
Who Should Receive GARDASIL?
GARDASIL is recommended for females ages 9-26. Doctors recommend receiving the vaccine before one becomes sexually active; however, those who are sexually active should still receive the vaccine because.
Risks?
The vaccine appears to be safe and no serious side effects have been seen so far.
How much does GARDASIL cost and will my insurance company cover it?
Each dose of GARDASIL costs $120, for a total of $360. Each insurance company has different rules regarding the coverage of the vaccine so it is best to contact them to find out exactly what their policy is.
NOTE: Those individuals who have received the vaccine through the health center thus far have been rejected for reimbursement from their insurance companies due to the fact that the facility is out of their health network and the administrator of the vaccine is not working under their health network.