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WEDNESDAY, November 5, 2014 VOL. 47, NO. 45 75¢ islandssounder.com
Amy Masters photo
Reality of date rape in the islands by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/publisher
Honoring veterans by CALI BAGBY Assistant editor
Honoring the military Last year, just a few weeks after stepping into her role as elementary principal, Kathy Page organized an assembly to honor veterans in the community. “It’s extremely important to recognize those that serve our country,” said Page. Now in its second year, the Orcas Island Elementary Veteran Appreciation Ceremony and Breakfast is on Friday, Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m. at the cafeteria. Once again the Community Band will lend their talents to the event. Page requests that military personnel and veterans come in uniform or wear something that signifies the branch of service. “We have some fabulous role models and it’s a great opportunity to interact with students,” said Page, whose husband served in the Army. Last year, Major General Bill Anders attended the event. Anders was one of the first three persons to have left Earth’s orbit and traveled to the moon. Page told the audience last year that his famous quote was, “We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.” He helped to shoot the first pictures taken of the Earth from the moon, which inspired environmentalists worldwide. This year, members from the American Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary will be attending the ceremony. Tom Ritter will be the special guest speaker and James Scheib will be reading a poem he wrote reflecting on his experiences as a marine. Page said it’s also an opportunity for community members to come to the school and show appreciation for those who serve our country. “I still have people come up to me at the grocery store and tell me how much last year’s event meant to them,” said Page.
Top: NASA photo. Above: Cali Bagby photo
Top: Bill Anders helped shoot the first pictures taken of the earth from the Moon, which inspired environmentalists worldwide. Above, L-R: Tom Ritter, Bill Anders and John Erly at Orcas School’s veteran service last year. Ritter is this year’s speaker.
‘Give an Hour’ Marriage and family therapist and certified trauma specialist Michael Elder is volunteering his services through the nonprofit Give an Hour. Give an Hour, founded in 2005, has created a network of volunteer mental health professionals pledging an hour a week of their services, free of charge, to members of the military – including active duty, reserve, and guard – veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq, their families and their communities. There is no limit to the number of sessions one can receive; help is available for as long as it is needed. Some of the men and women returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan have visible wounds, but more commonly those directly affected endure invisible injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress. There has been an alarming increase in suicide, domestic violence, divorce and behavioral difficulties among military children over the last decade of war. Give an Hour provides service to
SEE VETERANS, PAGE 5
Law enforcement and victim support groups are aware of a series of alleged date rapes in the San Juans. While the cases are currently at a stand still because of victims’ reluctance to testify, the need to educate the public has become apparent. “As an agency, prevention is a big piece of what we do,” said Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Services of the San Juans Director Kim Bryan. “We are active with prevention programs in the schools. And we’re realizing there is a whole population we need to educate: adults. A lot of women don’t know the safe party rules.” Undersheriff Bruce Distler says the victims on Orcas and Lopez possibly had drugs slipped into their drinks prior to the sexual assault. Nationally, 55 percent of date rape cases for women and 75 percent for men involve alcohol or drugs. The most commonly used “date rape drugs” are Rohypnol (known as a roofie) and GHB, which are central nervous system depressants and are seven to 10 times more potent than Valium. Ketamine, used as a large animal anesthetic, is also easy to slip into beverages. “All of these come in powder or liquid form and can be laced in just about anything – and the drugs are entirely clear,” Distler said. “They all have the same general action: it takes away your ability to remember and makes you drunk.” Predators groom their victims to create a sense of trust and use drugs that completely incapacitate them. Men and women who have been given these drugs say they felt paralyzed and had blurred vision and memory loss. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, approximately two-thirds of rapes were committed to someone known to the victim and one of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.
“Date rapes are happening with people that these women know,” Bryan said. “They are excited about going out on a date or know the man through an acquaintance. Women often don’t report the rape because they feel it is their fault for drinking. If you cannot give consent, it is rape. That is the state law. We need to blame the assailant not the victim.” Bryan says that when predators continually get away with assaults, it emboldens them to continue finding victims. “What is blowing me away is that as this is being talked about more in the community, long-time islanders are saying: ‘Oh yeah, that’s been going on around here for years,’” she said. “One assailant on Orcas has three known victims but the incidents are not being reported. I want people to take this seriously – it’s happening here. We need to watch out for each other. If your friend seems drunk, step in and take her home.”
Keep yourself safe The number one rule: don’t
SEE RAPE, PAGE 6
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