The Truth About Rape: Jane Doe No More To Speak

WATERBURY — Donna Palomba, sexual assault survivor and founder of Jane Doe No More, Inc, will speak at the UConn Waterbury campus on Tuesday, November 11. The talk, entitled “Why You Should Believe Her: The Truth About Rape,” is open to students, faculty, administration, and the public.

The event is being held from 12:30 to 1:30 in Room 116 on the campus at 99 East Main Street.

“College-age women are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault,” explained Ms Palomba. “And young men stand a one in 33 chance of being a victim in their lifetime. The statistics are alarming.

“Rape and sexual assault aren’t just women’s issues — they’re community issues,” she continued. “That’s why it is so important to talk about and understand the crime of rape, which is so often misunderstood and underreported. When we do, the stigma will at last be broken, victims will be allowed to heal, perpetrators will be taken off the streets, and we will all be safer.”

Jane Doe No More was born out of the experience of Ms Palomba, a Connecticut resident who was raped in her home by a masked intruder in 1993. For 14 years, she was simply “Jane Doe” in police files and media reports.

In April 2007, Donna came forward in public for the first time to tell her story and launch the Jane Doe No More initiative on Dateline NBC. In addition, her case was the impetus for a new state bill signed into law in July 2007 removing the statute of limitations on sexual assault crimes involving DNA evidence.

“This is a great opportunity for students and members of the community to learn firsthand how one person, with hard work and courage, was the impetus for a new Connecticut law on sexual assault cases involving DNA evidence,” said Laura Donorfio, assistant professor of human development and family studies at UConn Waterbury.

Dr William Pizzuto, director of the Waterbury campus, will introduce Ms Palomba.

The event is sponsored by UConn’s Associated Student Government.

For additional information call Jim Long at 203-236-9846 or email Jim.Long@uconn.edu, or contact Laura Donorfio at 203-560-0760 or Laura.Donorfio@uconn.edu.