Donate to fund during registration

Middle Way House is in trouble. The primary source of funding for its rape crisis program is about to disappear, and students are not doing what they can to help the situation.\nWhen students register, few select the option on the computer screen that donates $3 to the IU Student Association Rape Crisis fund, which goes directly to the Middle Way House. That $3 charge to students' bursar bills represents the only steady source of income for the rape crisis program.\nIf at least 10 percent of students don't select that option during spring registration period, the IUSA rape crisis fund will be removed from the registration system because less than 10 percent of students chose that option when registering in the fall. This is the last chance, and if it happens again, the IUSA fund and the rape crisis program could become a thing of the past.\nThe Middle Way House rape crisis program helps many people. Its services include a 24-hour rape crisis hotline, rape survivor support groups, prevention programming and temporary shelter for victims. In the last year, workers at Middle Way House have helped more than 150 rape victims and answered more than 260 phone calls. More than half of the phone calls came from students, faculty and staff.\nCompared to tuition and all the other expenses included on students' bursar bills, a $3 rape crisis fund donation is just a drop in the bucket. But it amounts to quite a bit when all students participate. It could be the most useful $3 students spend this year.\nFighting the problem of rape on a college campus means more than attending Take Back the Night rallies once a year. Rapes happen year-round, and places such as Middle Way House deal offer the support and assistance victims need. \nIt is easy to ignore the check-off during registration, so students can save themselves, their parents or their scholarship funds the $3 charge. But we all have friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, sisters, brothers, parents, classmates and co-workers who could be victims of rape at any time. And just as easily, we ourselves could be the next victims of rape on this campus. If that happens, we will want services such as the Middle Way House to be available and able to offer assistance.\nRape does happen at IU. The Middle Way House helps victims. And students should do their part to help Middle Way House and the IUSA Rape Crisis fund, by making that donation during registration.\nStaff vote: 9 - 0