Sexual assault to be focus of campus-community program

An expert panel of scientific, legal, law enforcement and victim's rights advocates will present "Rape: Breaking the Stigmas" on campus Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Free and open to the public, the event will begin at 7 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium. The goal of the symposium is to raise awareness about the crime of sexual assault, and to provide useful information on relevant topics of interest to law enforcement, first responders, forensic scientists and nurses, victims, and the community at large, especially college-age men and women.

Dean of Student Affairs Rochelle Calhoun will moderate the panel, which features the following speakers:

-Dr. Henry Lee, founder and professor of the forensic science program at the University of New Haven and chief emeritus of the Connecticut State Police

-Donna Palomba, founder of Jane Doe No More

-Jim Murphy, Saratoga County district attorney

-Ed Moore, Saratoga Springs chief of police

-Maggie Fronk, executive director of Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County

Palomba, a Skidmore College parent, said, "It's so important that we talk about rape because it is such a misunderstood and under-reported crime. This panel is a great way to educate the public, remove the stigmas, and break the silence. I'm grateful to Skidmore College for hosting this event; it's an honor to be participating with so many distinguished colleagues." 

Palomba founded Jane Doe No More after being sexually assaulted in 1993 at her home in southern Connecticut, and being revictimized by the police in Waterbury, Conn., as she sought justice in her case. In a strange coincidence, the man eventually charged and convicted of assaulting Palomba is the same person charged with the 2005 attempted kidnapping of a Saratoga Springs high school student as she left the school grounds following track practice. That man, John Regan, was eventually convicted of both crimes and is now in prison.

The panelists represent a variety of disciplines and perspectives, and will discuss in particular the areas of personal safety, the need for accurate reporting and collecting of evidence, advances in DNA technology, empowerment and self-esteem, and resources available to sexual assault victims and their families.