The event sponsored will be open to Cabrini students and their

by Barbara Mongelli The alarming statistics regarding the rise in the number of bodily assaults, especially among women, are proof of the need for an awareness of prevention and defense against such attacks. The most common notion about defense is that it means physically protecting yourself. This is often achieved through the use of a lethal weapon, mace, or self-defense tactics. According to Mary Fitzpatrick, a representative of the Delaware County chapter of Women Against Rape (WAR), these tactics may be helpful sometimes but they do have their disadvantages. For example, a weapon can be used against you if the assailant manages to get it from you. This is not often a difficult accomplishment since the attacker may be physically stronger than you are, and your terror may not enable you to resist his attempts. Defense tactics such as karate and judo must be used immediately, before the assailant overpowers you. This is often difficult since it takes a while to be able to become aware of what is happening and thus react. Fitzpatrick said that the best defense tactic is to "use your head. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't have your head in the clouds when you're walking through the parking lot of the shopping mall." This doesn't mean that it can always avert an attack, but many times just being aware can help to avert the situation. This horrifying fact can sometimes be disregarded because it sounds so unbelievable. In fact, assaults by acquaintances are more "typical" than the violent assaults by strangers, which most people assume to be the "typical" attack. This common misconception can be detrimental to the victim since it makes them appear to have provoked the attack. People cannot conceive that a person they know would attack them. , WAR, as well as other victim assistance coalitions have provided tips in order to help in preventing assaults. If you are in a car, make sure that the car is in a good running condition. For example, keep your gas tank full, and your tires in good shape. Check inside your car for intruder before you get in it. Have your keys ready at all times. Always lock your car doors. If you are being followed drive to a police station. Don't pick up hitchhikers.

It is a common occurence for the assailant to be someone that the victim know.

The best defense tactic is to 'use your head. Be aware of your surroundings.' -Mary Fitzpatrick, representative of Women Against Rape

Fitzpatrick said that if you are at a party, or on a date, and you feel uncomfortable, do not hesitate to leave. Do not wait until your suspicions are confirmed. There is no reason to feel silly for thinking that something may be wrong because if you are feeling uncomfortable, there is probably something to feel uncomfortable about. This brings up an important point, especially among people in the college age group, who date and socialize more often. It is a common occurence for the assailant to be someone that the victim knows.

Student activities are likely to improve

When at home, don't open your door to strangers; request identification. Don't enter your house if you suspect that someone is there. If you live alone, put only your first initial and last name on the mailbox and in the phone book. Be wary of casual acquaintances when alone in your home. When out on the street, don't hitchhike . Act confident and alert when walking; someone frail and helpless is more susceptible to an attack. Avoid dark isolated areas, especially parking lots. If you are followed, run to the nearest lighted house or building. If attacked, use your common sense on whether or not to fight back. On dates, don't pretend to be weak and act helpless. Let the date know that you can handle yourself. Arrange a double date if it is a first date. Let someone know where you are going, which you should know ahead of time anyway. If you go to a party and there are no other females present, leave immediately. Alcohol and drugs put you at a definite disadvantage by putting the situation out of your control Alcohol and drug use could also make your date dangerous, and out of control. Pay attention to your feelings or suspicions, and be alert at all times .

Workshop designed to rganize activities

by Lisa D'Ascenzo The student activities board is working diligently to improve the quality and amount of activities planned for this year and the future. "All non-academic time is considered student activity time," according to Colleen DiRaddo, student activities director. "This includes programming by any department, club, organization or administration, as well as by my office." Since this is DiRaddo's first year as student activities director, her goals are to learn the ropes of student activities at Cabrini and to figure out what it takes to plan them well. "We can't hope to improve the activities unless we learn what is and what is not effective and why," DiRaddo said.

Lou Klock, social activities chairperson for the Student Government Association said, "We have a lot of activities planned for this year. We're going for quality , not quantity. We're trying to plan activities in which the students really want to participate."

'We can't hope to improve the activities unless we learn what is and what is not effective and why.' -Colleen DiRaddo, student activities director

Klock is also resident assistant at Cabrini East. Since Cabrini East is located off campus, it can be difficult to get the residents there involved in campus activities, although the student activities board is trying to do so. "We had our last Evening at Cabrini at Cabrini East on Oct. 30," Klock said. "It worked out very well. It gave Cabrini East some exposure." One exciting event coming up is the Celebration of Lights scheduled for the first weekend in December. "It's our kick-off celebration for Christmas," DiRaddo said. "I have had very good student participation in helping to plan this event." When asked if student activities had improved since last year, DiRaddo said, "It's difficult to note any improvement just six weeks into the semester. We now have the video cassette recorder and the widescreen television. We show sports on Saturday afternoons on the television , and are planning other uses for the VCR. Intramural football was attempted but it didn't work out, partly because several other collegiate teams were not permitted to participate in intramural sports. "We will eventually have to develop a group to plan intramural sports," Di Raddo said. "These people will probably come from outside the college, which means it will have to be budgeted."

'We're going for quality, not quantity.' -Lou Klock, social activities chairperson of SGA

"We're trying to organize outdoor hockey for men, as well as an aerobics class in the evenings," DiRaddo said. Lisa Bellano, freshman, has already instructed one aerobics class on Nov. 2 in the gym. "She is willing to do more classes if students will participate," DiRaddo said. DiRaddo is working with the SGA social activities committee as well as with classes so they can learn to plan their own activities and get class participation. DiRaddo is also studying reasearch about student activities. The research she has done so far has told her that students will go for excitement over liquor. "When there is no excitement, students will go for liquor," DiRaddo said. "We need to educate students to get them to stay here on weekends," DiRaddo said. "We have a commuting resident population because we have no residency boundary. You can live five miles away from campus and still be a resident." This presents a problem because many students go home on weekends to find excitement. "For all intensive purposes, we are competing with 18 years of activities and pull from home," DiRaddo said. "It creates a different dimension and attitude but it has a direct affect on stu- · dent activities." DiRaddo feels that most activities are planned on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights because so many people go home on weekends. "Instead of accomodationg commuter residents, we must try to plan more weekend activities," DiRaddo said.

by Lisa D'Ascenzo A student activities workshop is planned for the weekend of Nov. 19. It is intended to more effectively coordinate activities for the 1984 Spring semester. Clubs, organizations and department heads will submit calendars to Colleen DiRaddo, student activities director. Each calendar will have their different planned activities. The schedules will be reviewed carefully, looking for conflicts and duplications . "For example, if we have ten dances scheduled, some will have to go," DiRaddo said. "We have to go over what activities will and will not be successful."

The workshop will help students plan activities that are of good quality so that people will want to attend them.

_"The stud_en~,isn't al~ays at fau~t if an activity that has been planned does not go well," J?1Raddo said. Sometimes there 1s a lack of public relations, advertising and information . The student makes plans based on lack of information." One of the_ goals of the workshop will be to educate every organization involved on how to use the video cassette recorder and the wide-screen t.v. , and also how to fill out the necessary forms in order to use it.

'We are trying to get the skeleton of the spring semester activities in shape.' -Colleen DiRaddo, student activities director

"We are trying to get the skeleton of the spring semester activities schedule in shape," DiRaddo said. "Anyone can fill up a calendar to make it look good, but we need back-up. For example, if an organization tells me that the Metropolitan Opera Company is coming to Cabrini, they have to show me a contract from the company, the public relations information and an agenda of what will make the activity successful before we can put anything on the calendar. This is absolutely necessary in planning activities." "Before, if we had an obvious lack of participation for an event on Saturday, it was cancelled on Tuesday without anyone knowing about it," DiRaddo said.

'The student isn't_ always at fault if an activity that has been planned does not go well. Sometimes there is a lack of public relations, advertising, and information.' -Colleen DiRaddo, director of student activities