News & Events
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Upcoming One-day Conference | Stranger Assaults in Iowa City | Street Safety | WhistleSAFE™ | NITE RIDE and SAFE RIDE | Upcoming Advocate Training
Upcoming One-day Conference:
The Rape Victim Advocacy Program and Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline present a one-day conference, "Services for Sexual Assault Survivors," Wednesday, May 14, 2008 from 9 AM-5 PM. The conference will be held in the Old Capitol Mall in Iowa City, Iowa. Pre-registration is $30, after April 28, registration is $40. Contact isah@uiowa.eduto register.
Flyer and Registration Presenters
Stranger Assaults in Iowa City:
- Two weekend assaults possibly related. Iowa City Government article and composite sketch of perpetrator
- Assault near apartment building on 10.29.07. Press Citizen article and composite sketch of perpetrator
- Assault on Burlington Street 9.7.07
- If you recognize this man, were approached or assaulted in a similar manner, or have any information on this case, please call Crime Stoppers at 358.TIPS (8477) or the Iowa City Police at 356.5276.
- Police are searching for a suspect in a string of related attempted and forcible fondling sexual assaults that have been occurring in or near downtown since fall of 2006. The perpetrator seems to be out at night and has been targeting women, typically wearing skirts, who are alone (though at least one assault was of two women walking together).
- Iowa City Police Department Release
Anyone with any infromation is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 319.358.TIPS (8477).
- Police Shift Patrols After 27th Sexual Assault Daily Iowan Article
- Sudents Demand Sexual Assaults Cease Press Citizen Article
- A female University of Iowa student reported an assault to the police on December 2, 2006. She reported being pushed to the ground by her attacker on the North side of Van Allen Hall at 2am. She described the attacker as light skinned, possibly Latino in his mid 20's. To find out more about this incident you can read the Daily Iowan Article. If you have any information you are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 358.TIPS (8477) or the Iowa City Police at 356.5276
Street Safety
Street Safety Tips (PDF Document)
WhistleSAFE™
The Rape Victim Advocacy Program is launching a new program called WhistleSAFE™ on the University of Iowa campus. This program is funded by RVAP and the UISG. The purpose of WhistleSAFE™ is to provide whistles as one tool against sexual assault, raise sexual assault awareness, and educate students about street safety, rape prevention and risk reduction. In the 80's, RVAP sponsored a similar program called "WhistleSTOP" that was an effective rape prevention tool. We have tailored this program to meet the current needs of the University of Iowa campus. We ordered 6,000 whistles with the Rape Crisis Line phone number engraved on each one. The whistles can be carried on key chains or put on lanyards. A card with safety tips as well as our contact information will be included with each whistle. Students can carry this card in their wallet or purse for quick access to the information.
Whistles can be picked up from the RVAP office at 320 S. Linn Street in Iowa City. They are free to all University of Iowa students and only $1.00 for members of the public.
NITE RIDE and SAFE RIDE
NITE RIDE
Women can request a free, safe ride home Friday and Saturday nights. Under the NITE RIDE program, police will use a dark blue, 15-passenger UI van to transport women from a designated pickup point at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets in downtown Iowa City to their dorms or apartments within the following boundaries: Grand Avenue to the west, Summit Street to the east, Highway 6 to the south, and Foster Road to the north.
The van will be driven by a fully uniformed, full-time Department of Public Safety guard from 11 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, and 11 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday. The van will be clearly marked with five magnetic signs saying NITE RIDE and bearing the UI Police patch and the phone number.
While the guards driving the van will not be police officers, they will be able to communicate directly with UI police officers in case of an emergency.
SAFE RIDE
Extended Cambus hours are offered Friday and Saturday nights during the Academic Year on the Blue and Red Routes.
Map and schedule
Cambus routes
Upcoming Advocate Training
The next RVAP volunteer advocate training is in June 2008. For more information on volunteering for RVAP, visit the Volunteer page.
