When Montaret D. Davis allegedly raped a University student while holding her male friend at gunpoint this fall, the incident shook the entire University community. When another female student reported she was sexually assaulted in the McCormick Road residence area later in October, people began to question the safety within their illusionary bubble of University life.
Sexual assault happens. And it happens here. To help counter this all-too-real issue, the Inter-Sorority Council is asking students to come out to the Big Gig concert Monday to raise funds for the Sexual Assault Resource Agency.
SARA is a private, non-profit organization that works to reduce the vulnerability of men, women and children to sexual assault and sexual abuse and to further the recovery of sexual assault victims.
"We are encouraging all U.Va. students who see sexual assault as an issue to come out to the Big Gig," said Kara Long, ISC service co-chair and fourth-year College student. "This is not just an event for Greek students. It's for men and women, Greeks and non-Greeks."
The Virginia Belles, Academical Village People, Hullabahoos, CHoosE and the University Dance Club all are scheduled to perform in Monday night's 8 p.m. performance at McLeod auditorium.
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Last year, the Big Gig raised over $2,000 for SARA, according to SARA Buisness Director Linda Darrow.
"We count on this money to come in -- it is a vital part of our general fund," Darrow said. "We appreciate ISC's efforts to raise funds for us. Without them, our agency couldn't go on."
Charlottesville resident Annette Grimm started SARA in 1978 and remains its executive director. SARA is part of a coalition of rape crisis organizations, Darrow said, with Virginia boasting about 25 similar institutions statewide.
Their agency provides an educational and training program, confidential emotional support, crisis intervention, victim support groups, legal advocacy, counseling and referrals for victims of sexual assault. All SARA services are free.
"If you had just been sexually assaulted, we could meet you immediately at the emergency room and provide early counseling, help in collecting evidence, talk to relatives -- those kind of services," said Aretha Donnelly, SARA adult education and special projects coordinator. "SARA is definitely a service to the U.Va. community as well as the larger Charlottesville area as well."
Victims in various stages of recovery call SARA's hotline. Callers describe incidents ranging from recent situations of marital rape to memories of sexual abuse as a child suddenly resurfacing. Donnelly added that sexual assault is much broader than rape and that SARA works with cases of concerned adults who think a child they know might be a victim of molestation. The organization also works with people trapped in abusive relationships.
"Sexual assault is something that all women at the University should be concerned about," Long said. "As the oldest and largest organization of women at the University, the ISC wants to help support SARA in every way."
"Not only do we use SARA's services, but their organization benefits women outside in the community," said Katie Conaway, ISC public relations chair and fourth-year College student. "SARA risks going under without our funding."
This year, the Big Gig is sponsored by local businesses such as Sam Hill Entertainment, who will be providing the sound production for the a cappella concert, and O Suzannah restaurant, Baja Bean and Arch's, who donated gift certificates that will serve as door prizes.
"This is a great opportunity for us to work with an organization whose members we cooperate with often," said Hank Wells, Sam Hill Entertainment owner. "A lot of our business falls in arranging bands for the fraternities and sororities, so we felt that supporting SARA was an excellent cause to help out with."
The Big Gig, which has developed over the last 10 years, has become a standard fundraiser for SARA by the ISC.
"The benefits of the Big Gig are two fold," Conaway said. "We are able to raise funds for SARA, an organization many University women use, and we promote awareness about the serious issue of sexual assault and rape"
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