The 18th annual Linda Yalem Safety Run will be held Sunday. It marks the first race since the conviction of Altemio Sanchez, for crimes including the death of
Race coordinators say they have seen a drastic increase in participation. Unfortunately, before participants cross the finish line on Sunday, it's likely that at least one woman will be raped or sexually assaulted within our community.
"I'd hate to think that the community would let their guard down because this horrible man is off the streets," said Jane Fischer, director of SBI Health Education. "While we're happy about it, unfortunately, rape and sexual assaults happen everyday to people on college campuses and in our community."
This year's race mantra, "Don't go it alone," is one of the most common pieces of advice given not only to runners, but also college students and community members as a whole.
According to Andrea Costantino, director of Student Life, every runner will receive safety tips with their race T-shirts, reminding runners to do things like altering their route and wearing bright colors.
"It's nothing people haven't learned before," Costantino said. "It's information like not running or walking alone and being careful and aware of your surroundings."
Many runners say they feel safer in light of Sanchez's capture, but still are cautious of bike paths, especially at night. According to Mary Veith, junior chemistry major and UB Cross Country captain, running alone still does not feel safe.
"For me, I still feel like I shouldn't be running on the bike path by myself," Veith said. "I always get these images or this feeling that something's wrong, and it's just not safe.
According to Fischer, the most common forms of rape and sexual assault are not committed by strangers - in fact, stranger rape is the least prevalent form of violence against women.
"The most likely person to be a rapist or to commit sexual assault is a person someone knows," Fischer said. "One in four women will be a victim of non-stranger rape during her college years."
Women are more vulnerable when alone, whether it be at parties, or running on a bike path, according to Fischer. She said that's why this year's race mantra, "Don't go it alone," is important to remember when doing anything on or off campus.
"One of the most dangerous situations is where alcohol is involved, alcohol being the number one date rape drug," Fischer said. "Any time when you're not in 100 percent control of your faculties, you're at risk - whether it be at a party, a bar, a house or a dorm room."
Fisher said that to prevent falling victim to any form of violence, students should not let friends stay at parties alone and should make sure to walk and run in groups, even during the day.
According to Melanie Bentley-Cruz, the leadership programming coordinator for Student Life and this year's volunteer coordinator for Sunday's race, there should be no reason students should have to walk alone and put themselves at risk.
"The Anti-Rape Task Force has been around for quite a while and has volunteers who will walk students home from the libraries," Bentley-Cruz said. "They also have shuttles, and there are blue phones on campus to call University Police."
This year, representatives from local police departments, including members of the task force responsible for the capture of Sanchez, will be the honorary race-starters.
"That's our way of thanking them and honoring them," Bentley-Cruz said.
According to Chief Gerald Schoenle of the University Police, a police presence on bike paths has been drastically increased. Police work an evening shift from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m., with officers that are all bike path certified. Schoenle said he doesn't want people to become careless, because there have been other occurances on the bike paths.
"Sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the country. It's estimated that less than 20 percent of sexual assaults are reported, and that number is probably even lower on campuses, where most victims know their offenders," Schoenle said. "I would like to find a way to get victims to be more willing to prosecute."
Schoenle said that women who are raped or sexually assaulted on college campuses are far less likely to report the incident because of the higher probability that the victim knew the offender, and that both parties live in a college setting where attention would be drawn to them. He encourages victims to report their crimes because statistically, those who commit rape and sexual assault are not first time offenders, and will strike again.
"Statistically, suspects are often known to commit multiple sexual assaults before they are apprehended," Schoenle said.
This year, over 1,000 runners will be participating in the race. In addition, over 600 volunteers will be helping prior to the race and cheering on the sidelines during race day.
"I think it's going to be more of a celebration this year," Veith said. "I think the race will have a much different atmosphere and there will be extra excitement that there wasn't in previous years."
Fisher hopes that the race will serve as both a celebration and a reminder of the constant dangers and prevalence of rape and sexual assault within our community.
"Linda Yalem has come to represent a certain vulnerability that we as college students, as women and as people are," Fischer said. "I hope she can be a reminder that rape and sexual assault happen on college campuses everywhere...even here."
Students looking to run in the race can register up to the morning of the race at www.lindayalemrun.buffalo.edu. Race fees are $15 for UB students and $20 for the public.
Students interested in volunteering can contact Melanie Bentley-Cruz, volunteer coordinator for the race, at mbentley@buffalo.edu.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
