Group marks Sexual Assault Awareness Week

By Katie Brown, Journal staff | Monday, April 23, 2007

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RAPID CITY - On a hot June night in 2001, 32-year-old Tracy awoke to a man holding her down and the serrated blade of a steak knife pressed to her neck.

The man raped her, beat her and, after a violent struggle, dropped the knife and fled Tracy's house.

"It rocks your world," said Tracy, whose name has been changed to protect her identity.

She said that over time, she has learned to cope. However, the element of the rape that still makes her the angriest is that she will never feel safe in her own home again.

She moved out of the house where it took place, but the feeling of lacking safety lingers.

"That's what makes me the maddest," she said.

April 23-27 is Sexual Assault Awareness Week in Rapid City and throughout the country.

In observation of the week, Working Against Violence, Inc., or WAVI, will host an open house today from noon until 2 p.m. The public can visit with WAVI officials and tour the facility.

A candlelight vigil will be held in front of the WAVI building at 527 Quincy St. Wednesday, April 25 at 6 p.m.

"We want people to know we are more than just a safe house," Mark Rambow, development director of WAVI, said. "We really have comprehensive services for both victims of sexual assault and domestic violence."

Tracy did not know the perpetrator. The first time she got a good look at him was in court a few weeks after the rape.

Becky Meyers, sexual assault case manager for WAVI, said in 90 percent to 95 percent of cases, the victim knows the person who assaults them.

That level of acquaintance can range from a person the victim just met at a party to a close family member.

Rambow said numbers of women coming to the WAVI shelter were up in 2006. However, the average length of their stays was down from 11 days to nine days.

"We've been focusing a lot more on case management so we reduce the numbers of days people spend here," he said.

Those women come in after a variety of incidents, usually involving sexual assault or domestic violence.

Rambow said WAVI saw 27 percent more people stay at the shelter in 2006 than in 2005.

He said he can only speculate about the reason for the jump in numbers.

"We're focusing on awareness," he said. "We're trying to bring attention to the fact that sexual assault does happen in our community. It is our problem."

He said he hopes the reason for increased stays at WAVI is because of increased awareness about the program and not because of increases in assaults and domestic violence.

Meyers said that it is possible that as word gets out more and more about WAVI's services, more people are utilizing them.

"In the last year, we've really focused on making our presence more known in the community," Meyers said.

WAVI served 267 clients last year for sexual assault.

Some of those clients stayed at the shelter, others used other WAVI resources, such as help getting protection orders.

WAVI also sends a representative to the emergency room any time of day when a rape is reported to assist the victim and just generally be there to comfort that person.

Tracy's eyes still fill with tears when she talks about the work the WAVI representative, law enforcement officials and Pennington County Victims' Assistance did for her following the rape.

She said she was taken seriously from the beginning.

"They believe you," Tracy said. She said she encourages people to report sexual assault.

Sharon Kallemeyn, director of Pennington County Victims' Assistance, said it is important to remember that anyone can be a victim and anyone can be a perpetrator.

Sexual assault does not just take place in "bad" neighborhoods, and perpetrators range in age and economic status.

"Rapists do not care what kind of house you live in," Tracy said. "And they're not all just poor white trash."

Meyers said WAVI also offers resources for men who have a wife, girlfriend, sister, mother or other loved one who has been sexually assaulted.

These secondary victims need help coping and knowing how to help their loved one cope, Meyers said.

She said she wants men to know that WAVI is a resource for them, too.

Tracy said she believes that sexual assault can be prevented if parents of young boys teach their children to be respectful of women from a young age. She said supportive and loving parents are important.

"That's how we get rid of rape," she said.

Tracy said she has told her own 11-year-old son about the rape.

"I don't tell him all the details," she said. "But he knows what happened."

She said it is important to her that he knows what happened and understand that it is wrong.

The man who raped Tracy pleaded guilty to raping her and another woman, and he is serving 50 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, 25 years for each rape.

After the rape, she found out the 26-year-old man was out on bond for rape charges in Nebraska when he raped her.

The Nebraska charges were eventually dropped.

Tracy said the man had lived in her neighborhood about 10 days, had driven by and seen her painting her house a couple of days before the rape.

Kallemeyn said it is important to remember that many sexual assaults go unreported.

Rambow said it is difficult to know how many people are assaulted and do not come to WAVI or how many assaults go unreported.

"All we can do is help the people who do come to us; we can't estimate the numbers of people who don't," he said.

Tracy said she has learned to live with what happened to her and, in a way, is glad it happened because it ended the cycle.

She reported the rape, which ended in the arrest and long prison sentence of a man who Tracy believes would continue sexually assaulting women for years to come.

"I'm glad I reported it. I would take what happened to me over it happening to someone who might not have fought back or reported it," she said. "In a heartbeat."

Ways to prevent sexual assault

-- If you are dating someone new, be sure family or friends know where you are going and with whom.

-- Be cautious of drinks: Don't leave drinks unattended or accept an open drink from someone.

-- Go out in groups whether jogging, to a party or elsewhere.

-- Be aware of who is around you and where you are.

-- Be cautious when consuming alcohol; being under the influence does not give someone an excuse to harm you, but it decreases inhibitions and awareness.

(Courtesy of Becky Meyer of WAVI.)

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com