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Smartphone case designed to prevent sexual assault could land on college campuses

October 24, 2014

With two clicks of a button that triggers blinding strobe lights, a screeching alarm and calls 911, the Whistl smartphone case is designed to disorient an attacker.

Engineering students at Carnegie Mellon University were motivated to found the  LifeShel company, which creates safety products that address sexual assault, in 2013 after a close friend’s horrible experience. The Whistl case is the team's newest tool intended to protect against sexual assault.

In addition to its alarm system, Whistl places a call to loved ones and starts recording audio and video when the user activates it. Other assault prevention tools on the market require an extra device or ask users to log into an app. 

President of MSU’s Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Team Kyra Stephenson  said the only thing that can truly prevent sexual assault is having perpetrators not commit sexual assaults. She said everything else, like Whistl, just ends up being “risk reduction.”

“So while these tools may seem great in theory and may help people feel safer on campus, I worry that it once again puts the onus on the victim to prevent the assault,” Stephenson said in a message. “Additionally, the overwhelming majority of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knew, and I think these types of tools are usually targeted towards the prevention of stranger assaults.”

Jayon Wang,  LifeShel CEO,  said in a press release that they want to create a culture where the community is engaged, emergency services are at the ready and there is increased reporting and accountability. He said the Whistl’s features are designed around those goals.

Beyond college students, Wang said they hope to also reach parents, runners, cab drivers, bartenders and anyone especially concerned with personal safety.

LifeShel launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the anticipated release of Whistl. The Kickstarter will run through Nov. 2, with a fundraising goal of $70,000 to bring Whistl through its first production run and into communities.

Those Stephenson said Whistl doesn’t address the root of sexual assault, she said it is a positive sign that so many people want to get involved with the issue and help brainstorm solutions.

There have been instances of sexual assault on MSU's campus, with the most recently reported assault taking place near Beaumont Tower earlier this month.

“We need this type of dialogue to move forward as a society, but we will need to move beyond technological innovations to a true cultural shift before we can really solve this problem,” Stephenson said.

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