collegian.csufresno.edu
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017
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Fresno State’s Award-Winning Newspaper
PROFILE
New dean says ‘the library was a refuge’ By Razmik Cañas @Raz_Canas
Alejandro Soto • The Collegian
New Dean of Library Services Delritta Hornbuckle speaks with The Collegian during an interview in the Henry Madden Library on Oct. 11, 2017.
Libraries have always been a part of Delritta Hornbuckle’s life, no matter where she has been. “My father picked cotton on the fields of east Texas in the summers before trying to go to school,” she said as she reflected on her past recently. “I literally am maybe two descendants from African-American slaves in Texas.” Education was always valued by her family. Her mother worked cleaning the homes of wealthy people. And during that time she would sit in the libraries in the homes and read. It was clear. “The library was a refuge,”
Hornbuckle said. That refuge helped her gain more knowledge. It was also the key to her success. “The library for me was basically a pathway for my parents, just upward mobility,” Hornbuckle said. “So I am basically that second generation of economic opportunity, and the library was the core of it.” Education took her many places in life. Today, she is the new dean of library services at Fresno State’s Henry Madden Library. She was hired in September and took over for recently retired Peter McDonald. Considered “the jewel of this campus,” Hornbuckle’s job will be to make sure the Henry Madden Library is a welcoming
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‘ME TOO’
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Hollywood controversy highlights sexual assault
By Jessica Johnson @iamjesslj
S
exual assault and harassment did not start, and likely will not end, in Hollywood. After allegations of decades of sexual assault by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein came to light by a New York Times article on Oct. 5, the hashtag #MeToo began trending on social media. The response grew when actress Alyssa Milano asked for victims of sexual assault and harassment to reply to her tweet with “Me too.” The tweet, by Tuesday, had received more than 61,000 replies, 22,000 retweets and more than 41,000 likes. It has caught the attention of people from all walks of life. It has Fresno State staff hoping larger awareness is created for sexual assault.
Erin Boele, the interim Title IX coordinator at Fresno State, said she believes these types of movements help victims speak out about their experiences. “I do believe that movements like this help others speak out as it can help remove the silence that has encapsulated these topics and again allow them to know that they are not alone and others understand what they are going through,” Boele said. She added that meaningful conversations about sexual assault and harassment will create more awareness. “The more aware people are, the more effective we can be with change,” Boele said. According to the 2017 Annual Security Report published by the university police, no rapes were reported on campus last year. But one rape was reported in 2015 and in 2014. Three fondling cases were reported last year on campus and once at a campus
residence, according to the same report. Out of every sixth American women, one has been raped or has been a victim of an attempted rape, according to data gathered by Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). As of 1988 in the U.S., the organization reports 17.7 million women have become victims of rape. As for men, 2.78 million have become victims of rape, according to RAINN. With the staggering numbers, it’s likely there are those in the Fresno State community who have experienced sexual assault. The Collegian reached out to students on social media and asked those who attend, work or have graduated from Fresno State to reply with “Me too” if they have been affected by sexual assault at any moment in their life. Twelve users affiliated with Fresno State responded publicly, and two responded through a direct message. Mercedes Martinez, a history major at Fresno State, said she has always considered herself a victim of sexual assault, until recently. Now, “I am a survivor,” she said. Martinez said she first heard of the “#MeToo” campaign when a friend of her’s posted about it on a Facebook. Then, she said, the movement began to grow, and she saw it everywhere online. “I am deeply invested in this movement,” Martinez said. “We’ve grown up in a culture
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Women have been raped or been a victim of an attempted rape.
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Rape victims are men. Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)