S Juorkshop

photography by Jennifer Moreau

Rohypnol:the new date rape drug

By Jennifer Moreau

Rohypnol, the infamous new date rape drug is getting tons of attention, yet the discourse is seriously lacking some critical analysis. The current information circulated by doctors, lawyers, pharmaceutical companies and the media, lacks input from women and directs us to “watch out” and alter our behavior even further to avoid rape. The story goes a little like this...

Rohypnol is an odorless, tasteless pill that can be dissolved in any liquid. Rapists using drugs to incapacitate their victims is not a new concept, Rohypnol just happens to be the latest addition to a number of drugs already in use. Rohypnol is prescribed for severe sleeping disorders in some countries but is illegal in Canada and the U.S. There are currently more than twenty investigations of Rohypnol cases in B.C., yet no convictions to date. Symptoms of the drug include severe mental incapacitation, difficulty breathing, walking and remembering events. Nausea is common, speech may be slurred and blood pressure drops dramatically. Victims often black out completely and have no recollection of what happened. The drug’s effects are intensified with alcohol and can even cause death. Rohypnol kicks in immediately, peaking in two hours and lasting from eight to thirty-six hours. Women are advised to avoid unknown men in bars, parties and social functions. It’s not okay to accept drinks from strangers or casual acquaintances. Drinks must be watched at all times, any glass or Poe that is already open could be contaminated... The list goes on.

While awareness is always useful, there are still three main problems with these suggestions to alter women’s behaviour. One, it doesn’t work. Women can follow every guideline they have ever been told and still get raped. Two, behaviour modifications further restrict women’s freedom. We can’t walk alone at night or in parks, we can’t wear “certain” clothing, and now we can’t accept drinks from anyone, and must watch our glass at all times. Three, if you do not adhere to the rules outlined in number two, it was your fault, you asked for it, or you should have known better.

While the Rohypnol rape victim is innocent of all behaviour charges, other than those prior to ingestion, all of the “other” women who weren’t fully incapacitated are still considered suspect. These are the women who failed to follow steps one through thirty of the “How Not To Get Raped Guide” and are constantly told, “Yeah, but still, you shouldn’t have ” (insert behavior).

In the words of author and activist, Pearl Cleage, “The victim of rape is never, never, never responsible, no matter what she was wearing, where she was walking, what she was doing, or who she went out with, had a drink with, married, kissed, flirted with, or lied to. Bad judgment and carelessness are not punishable by rape.”

When will these public information campaigns stop focusing on women and our behavior and start focusing on some real solutions? What about campaigns aimed at the perpetrators of sex crimes, increasing accountability for their misogynist behaviors? What about funding for rape crisis centres or increased legal aid for the victims of rape who can’t afford expensive legal costs? Those are just a few ideas and I’m sure we could come up with more. One can only wonder what would happen if all the time, energy, and money spent focusing on women’s behavior were channeled toward more practical solutions to end rape.

If you suspect you have been raped using Rohypnol:

Contact a rape crisis center.

Go to the hospital immediately, and request a urine test, Rohypnol metabolizes within 12-24 hours and won't show up after that. Ask for the rape kit to collect forensic evidence if you should decide to proceed legally.

Get a STD, HIV and pregnancy test.

Save any evidence: clothes, condoms, sheets, etc.

Try to find out if there were any witnesses.

ECIAD STUDENTS’ UNION ASSOCIATION

BUDGET OUTLINE FOR 1998/99

External Accountant

Equipment Graduating Class Handbook Group

BS ree Group

Meetings

Radio Free Emily

elf-Defense (Women’s) 400 |

Planet of the Arts

$1,400 | Administration 500 | Campaigns 3,000 | Choir Group 3,000

Con Ed Design

1,400 2,300 | 15,500 400 | + +7}&Media 500 Studio

Concourse Shows 3 1,200 | Curriculum Constituen

Foundation

$1,300 | Social Constituencies * 1,400 Ist Nations $200 600 | Cultures | 200 > 800 Sexual 200 es lk . — 200 Other 200

2,400

600 (for social constituencies represencieaet

| Stipends

$3,900 | 3,400

| Total 41,000.

Students Union Executive Meetings

* recommended allocation only

_ every second Wed N esd Say in the Boardroom

North building, 2nd floor

December 1998 @ influx 26053

Rohypnol:the new date rape drug

By Jennifer Moreau

infamous new date rape drug is geting tons of attention, yet ly lacking some critical analysis. The current information, Tawyers, pharmaceutical companies and the medi, lacks input from women and directs s to watch out” and ater our behavior even further to avoid rape, The story goes ite ike this

Rotypnol is an odorless, stles pill that can be dissolved in any tigu Rapist using drugs to incapacitate thei wets i aot a new concept Rohypnol just happens to be the latest addition to a number of drugs already in use. Roliypnal prescribed for severe sleeping disorders in some counties but illegal in Canada and the US. There are curently more than twenty investigations of Rohypnol ates in B.C, yet no convictions vo date. Symptoms ofthe drug inclade severe mental incapactation, Aliiculty breathing, walking and remembering events. Nausea common, speech May be slurred and blood pressure drops dramatically. Victims often black out completely ‘and have no recollection of what happened. The drug’ effets are intensified with Alcohol and can even cause death. Rohypnol kicks in immediately, peaking in #0 hours land lasting fom eight to thie)-six hours. Women are advised to avoid unkown me ‘ars, paris and soil functions. Is not okay to acept drinks from strangers orcas acquaintances. Drinks must be watched at all imes, any glass or botle that already ‘open could be contaminated...he ist goes on

While awareness alas useful, there are still vee main problems with ‘these suggestions to alter women's behaviour. One, i doesnt work. Women can fellow every guideline they have ever been told and stil get raped. Two, behaviour ‘modifications further restrict women’ freedom. We can't walk alone at ight oF in parks, we can't wear “certain” clothing, and now we can't accept drinks from anyone, and must watch our glass a all times. Thre, i'you donot adhere tothe rules outined in number two, it was your fal, you asked fort or you sould have Known beter,

‘While the Robypnol rae victim i innocent of all Behaviour charges, other than those prior to ingestion, all ofthe “other” women who were’ fully incapacitated are stil considered suspect. These are the women who failed follow steps one through {hietyof the “How NotTo Get Raped Guide” and are constantly tol, "Yeah, but stil, ou shouldn't have Cert behav)

Tn the words of author and atv, Peal Cleage, “The victim of rapes never, never, never responsible, no matter what she was wearing, where she was walking, what the war doing, or who she went outwit, had a drnk with, marie, Ksed, Site with, or lied vo. Bad judgment and careless are not punishable by rape”

\When will these public information campaigns stop focusing on women and cur behavior and start focusing on some real solutions? What about campaigns aimed ac the perpetrators of sex crimes, increasing accountabiliy for their misogynist behavior? What about funding for rape exiss centres or increased legal ai forthe

rape who can't afford expensive legal costs? ‘Those ae ust few ideas and

‘One can only wonder what would happen all

‘money spent focusing on women's behavior were channeled toward more practical solutions to end rape

If you suspect you have been raped using Rohypnol:

Contact a rape crisis center

Go to the hospital immediately, and request a urine test, Rohypnol metabolizes within 12-24 hours and won't show up after that. Ask for the rape kit to collect forensic evidence if you should decide to proceed legal

Get a STD, HIV and pregnancy test.

Save any evidence: clothes, condoms, sheets, etc.

Try to find out if there were any witnesses.

ECIAD STUDENTS’ UNION ASSOCIATION

BUDGET OUTLINE FOR 1998/99

[External Accountant $1,400 | Administration $1,300 | Social Constituencies * 500 | Campaigns 1,400 Ist Nations $200 3,000 | Choir Group 600 Cultures 200 3,000 | Concourse Shows 800 Sexual 200 1,200 | Curriculum Constituencies Women’s 200 1,400 Con Ed $800 Other 200 2,300 Design 900 $1000 15,500 Foundation 400 400 Media 1,200 Stipends 2,400 500 Studio 600 (for social constituencies representatives)

400 $3,900

3,400 _|

Total 41,000

recommended allocation only

Students’ Union Executive Meeti

every second Weed esd say in ine soardroom

North building, 2nd floor

December 1998 © influx 26053