Workshop aims to take blame off men and help them help women
Men may not feel society gives them permission to speak up, but their voices can be critical in preventing sexual violence against women.
Utah State University fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon is bringing a men’s peer education group to campus Monday to help educate and empower men to help stop rape and sexual assault.
“Ninety-five to 99 percent of sexual assault and rape incidents are perpetrated by men, but most men are not rapists,” said Rachel Hickman, USU’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Coordinator. “We want to give all those good guys out there a voice and ways to implement the tools they have.”
Four college students representing One in Four, the organization which supports the National Organization of Men’s Outreach for Rape Education (NO MORE), will speak to USU students and meet with fraternities to educate men about helping women recover from sexual assault and help prepare students for a NO MORE chapter that will be formed at USU.
“I’m feeling pretty positive,” Hickman said. “I’m excited about bringing such top-notch excited young men to campus.”
Studies have shown men’s education groups can make a big difference on campus when it comes to stopping rape and sexual assault, Hickman said, and expects to see the same results at USU.
According to the group’s Web site, 75 percent of “high risk” men who see the program report a lower likelihood of raping after the program concludes – an effect which lasts an entire academic year.
Most education about rape and sexual assault teaches women how they can protect themselves, but these types of educational programs can prevent the problem before it begins, Hickman said.
“We encourage [men] to stand up when they hear things that degrade women or when they see a potentially dangerous situation, for example, at a party, or when they hear on off-colored joke,” Hickman said.
By bringing a chapter of NO MORE to USU, Hickman said she hopes to create an atmosphere on campus where “the norm is for men to think, ‘I absolutely, as a man who respects women, absolutely have permission,’ to be vocal how they truly feel.”
That atmosphere doesn’t currently exist on most college campuses, Hickman said.
“There are all of these great guys who aren’t permitted to speak up about certain ways women are being treated,” she said. “They don’t feel they have social permission to speak up.”
Hickman said she hopes bringing One in Four will create “a sense of excitement” about the program and change attitudes toward sexual violence.
One in Four refers to the indicating one in four college women report surviving a rape or sexual assault since their 14th birthday.
According www.nomorerape.org, the group’s goals are to make men less likely to be sexually coercive toward women and help men understand how to help women recover from rape.
“This program will help [men] know what they can do to be most helpful to a woman that comes to them in the aftermath of sexual assault,” Hickman said.
One in Four’s presentation entitled “The Men’s Program: How to Help a Sexual Assault Survivor, What Men Can Do” will be given Monday at 12:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Sunburst Lounge.
The group’s RV will also be parked on the TSC Patio throughout the day where students can receive more information, Hickman said.
Scheduling the group was a little difficult, Hickman said, but was able to schedule the presentation between ones in Colorado and Tennessee.
“They’ve been on the road in the RV since last August and have visited over 40 campuses,” she said.
In addition to presentations to USU students, the group will also meet with administration members from USU, CEU, Snow College, Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.
“We hope to spread this throughout the state, starting here at USU,” Hickman said.
The USU chapter will be the 17th in the nation and the first in Utah.
Nominations are currently being accepted for membership to the chapter. Students may nominate men they know, but self nominations are also encouraged.
These men will be receive the necessary training and begin their duties early next fall semester including speaking to various men’s groups on campus.
Hickman said ideal candidates are sophomore and junior men who are strong public speakers, relate well to other men and who are sensitive to issues relating to violence against women. Exceptional freshman will be considered. Nominations can be sent to rhickman@cc.usu.edu or sigep@cc.usu.edu.
-bnelson@cc.usu.edu