UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 8, Page 6
October 22, 1992
Sexual Assault Awareness Week
Sexual Assault Awareness Week
Oct. 26-30 on Newark campus
The University of Delaware's annual Sexual Assault Awareness
Week, a week dedicated to discussion on all aspects of sexual assault,
is scheduled this year from Oct. 26-30 on the Newark campus.
Scheduled events include discussions of gang rape, acquaintance
rape, fraternity violence, what men can do, images of women on MTV,
images of black women and personal safety. All events are free and
open to the public.
In addition to videos, lectures and discussions, a
resource/information table will be set up daily from noon - 4 p.m. in
the Perkins Student Center Concourse. The table will be staffed to
provide information about Sexual Assault Awareness Week programs.
Materials on a variety of sexual assault topics and resource
information on related campus and community services also will be
available.
All events take place in the Perkins Student Center and Newark
Hall, both on Academy Street, or the Center for Black Culture, 192
South College Ave.
For more information, call the Office of Women's Affairs at
831-8063.
The schedule of events is listed below:
MONDAY, OCT. 26
Video/Discussion: "Dating Rites: Gang Rape on Campus," 10-11:30
a.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center. This contemporary video
explores how peer pressure in combination with sex role stereotypes
and abuse of alcohol can result in gang rape. Discussion will follow.
Lecture: "Acquaintance Rape on Campus," 1:30-3 p.m., Ewing Room,
Perkins Student Center. Using examples of sexual assaults that have
occurred on various campuses around the country, Patricia Yancey
Martin, professor of sociology at Florida State University, will
describe how the social conditions that create gendered relationships
on college campuses also create conditions that are conducive to
acquaintance rape.
Discussion: "The Fraternity Violence Education Project," 3:30- 5
p.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center. Debbie Malstead, professor
of psychology and faculty adviser for the Fraternity Violence
Education Project, West Chester University; John Repetto and John
Brennan, members of the Fraternity Violence Education Project, will
describe the purposes and goals of this program aimed at educating men
about sexual violence. Also speaking will be representatives of
various fraternities at West Chester who are actively involved in
understanding and stopping sexual assault.
Play: What's Goin' On?, 7- 8:30 p.m., Newark Hall auditorium.
Presented by Metamorphosis Performing Company of Lewisburg, Pa., this
play focuses on miscommunication, attitudes, expectations, and
assertiveness in relationships. After each scene, the audience has the
opportunity to question the characters and discover the hidden agendas
of college men and women.
TUESDAY, OCT. 27
Video/Discussion: "Peer Harassment," 10-11 a.m., Collins Room,
Perkins Student Center. This video that looks at harassment of women
and members of other groups (gays, lesbians, and bisexuals; racial and
ethnic minorities, etc.) by other college students. Scenarios depict
the different forms of peer harassment (including street harassment,
classroom harassment and harassment at parties, in residence halls,
etc.). Students discuss ways to change the campus environment to make
it a more supportive one. Discussion will follow.
Workshop: "The Relationship between State Aggression and
Interpersonal Violence," 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Ewing Room, Perkins
Student Center. Military philosophy and organized preparations for war
rest on traditional assumptions about sex and gender. In this workshop
Suzanne J. Cherrin, assistant professor of women's studies at the
University of Delaware, examines the ways in which militarized ideas
of masculinity and femininity further contribute to a high incidence
of rape, domestic assault and sexual harassment.
Discussion: "Beyond Sexual Assault: Issues in Healing," 1- 3
p.m., Rodney Room, Perkins Student Center. Cherie Weiss, Kim Ewing and
Leslie Orysh, counseling psychologists in the Center for Counseling
and Student Development at the University; and Janine Skrabak,
residence hall director in the Office of Housing and Residence Life,
will speak about the after-effects on survivors of sexual assault and
the components of healing.
Discussion: "A Matter of Respect: Stopping Sexual Harassment,"
3:30- 5 p.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center. Liane Sorenson,
director, and Donna Tuites, program coordinator, both of the
University's Office of Women's Affairs, will discuss what sexual
harassment is, including peer harassment, and how women and men can
work together to eliminate this barrier to true equality.
Discussion: "Personal Safety: Sexual Assault Awareness and
Prevention," 7-9 p.m., Rodney Room, Perkins Student Center. Karen
Healy, director of CONTACT DELAWARE/Rape Crisis Program, and Kathy
Owen, Newark Kenpo Karate, will focus on the connections between
personal empowerment, personal safety and sexual assault prevention.
They will discuss sexual assault myths and why men rape, and also
present self-defense techniques. Those attending will learn how to
avoid sexual assault situations and reduce the chance of injury during
an attack.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28
Lecture: "Partner Abuse in the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual
Community," 10:30 a.m.-noon, Collins Room, Perkins Student Center. Joy
Savage, sexuality educator, lesbian activist and member of the Victims
of Gay & Lesbian Partner Abuse National Task Force in Washington,
D.C., will speak on partner abuse among college-age gays, lesbians and
bisexuals. She will lead a discussion aimed at defining partner abuse,
which includes sexual violence and other forms of aggressive behavior.
Prevention strategies and helping resources also will be addressed.
Lecture: "Black Women: Images of Victimization & Villainy,"
12:20-1:10 p.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center. Carole Marks,
associate professor in the Black American Studies Program and the
Department of Sociology at the U. of D., will examine the
contradictory treatment of black women in the media, contrasting the
published reports on victimization with public debate on Anita Hill,
Robin Givens and Desiree Washington.
Discussion: "What Men Can Do," 1:30-3 p.m., Collins Room, Perkins
Student Center. Paul Ferguson, assistant director of Student Health
Services and SOS (Sexual Offense Support Group) member at the U. of
D., and William Perlstein, U.D. graduate student in psychology and SOS
member, will discuss how most men want to help prevent sexual assault
and be supportive to victims/survivors but don't know where and how to
start. Based upon their experiences as men working in the area of
sexual assault prevention and support services, the two will offer
prevention strategies and share skills they have developed to support
victims/survivors, their families and friends. Information will also
be presented on misconceptions many men hold about sexual abuse and
assault.
Lecture: "Date Abuse: People Abusing People," 3:30-5 p.m.,
Collins Room, Perkins Student Center. Jewel Boulet, sexuality educator
and faculty member at the Sanford School, will discuss how to tell a
bad relationship from a good relationship, warning signs and how to
prevent date abuse. Boulet also will explain the role of assertiveness
in preventing sexual exploitation in a relationship.
Lecture: "Images of Women on MTV," 7-8:30 p.m., Rodney Room,
Perkins Student Center. Kathleen D. Turkel, assistant professor of
women's studies at the University of Delaware, will look at images of
women in MTV videos and link them to ideas about women that are
prevalent in popular culture. The discussion will focus on the
objectification of women through cultural images and the link between
objectification and violence against women.
THURSDAY, OCT. 29
Video/Discussion: "Breaking Silence," 10 a.m.-noon, Collins Room,
Perkins Student Center. Carol Ann Schumann, program associate with
Delawareans United to Prevent Child Abuse, will show a video that
looks at sexual violence against children from the point of view of
both the victim and the perpetrator. The video examines the impact of
incest on the victim/survivor, family and friends. Schumann will
facilitate a discussion after the video.
Lecture: "Personal Safety: Sexual Assault Awareness and
Prevention," noon-1 p.m., Rodney Room, Perkins Student Center. Karen
Healey, director of CONTACT DELAWARE/Rape Crisis Program, will focus
upon the connections between personal empowerment, personal safety and
sexual assault prevention. She will discuss sexual assault myths, why
men rape and ways to avoid potential sexual assault situations.
Discussion: "Sex, Drugs and Alcohol: Never a Perfect Match,"
1:30-3 p.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center. Joyce Walter,
coordinator of Wellspring, Student Health Service, University of
Delaware; Richard Holland, assistant area coordinator in the U.D.
Office of Housing and Residence Life and SOS member, will discuss how
drugs and alcohol often play a significant role in sexually abusive
relationships. This program will focus on the connection between
sexual assault and substance use and abuse.
Video/Discussion: "Campus Rape," 3:30- 5 p.m., Center for Black
Culture. This documentary-style video, hosted by "L.A. Law" stars
Susan Dey and Corbin Bernsen, examines campus rape and its impact
through interviews with four college students. Discussion will
follow.
Lecture: "What Do Women's Liberation Theologies Have to Say about
Sexual Harassment?," 7- 8:30 p.m., Rodney Room, Perkins Student
Center. Gail L. Unterberger of the Wesley Theological Seminary in
Washington, D.C., asks the difficult questions of how religious
traditions, doctrines, rituals and symbols participate in and may even
institutionalize sexual violence.
FRIDAY, OCT. 30
Video/Discussion: "Athletes for Sexual Responsibility: Rape
Awareness," 10-11:30 a.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center.
Representatives of Student Services for Athletes at the University of
Delaware will discuss a video that uses athletes to portray characters
in damaging or potentially harmful sexual situations, including date
rape and gang rape. The video shows that athletes can be role models
for positive social and sexual behavior as well as of physical
strength, agility and stamina. The athletes also demonstrate the use
of better communication skills in dealing with difficult sexual
dilemmas and decisions.
Rally: Rally to End Sexual Assault, 6:30- 8 p.m., Rodney Room,
Perkins Student Center. Closing speakers, followed by a march through
the campus and town against sexual violence. Afterward all present
will be asked to make a personal commitment to end sexual violence.
All are welcome.
* * *
Sexual Assault Awareness Week is sponsored by the Solutions to
Sexual Violence Task Force, with funding support from the Commission
to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity, the Commission on the Status
of Women, the Dean of Students Office, the Department of Public
Safety, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Office of Housing and
Residence Life, the Office of the President, the Office of the Senior
Vice President, the Office of the Vice President for Employee
Relations, the Office of the Vice President for Student Life, the
Office of Women's Affairs, the Perkins Student Center and Student
Health Services.
The Solutions to Sexual Violence Task Force includes University
students and representatives from the Office of Admissions, Campus
Ministries, the Center for Black Culture, the Center for Counseling
and Student Development, the Commission on the Status of Women,
CONTACT DELAWARE/Rape Crisis Program, the Dean of Students Office, the
Department of Public Safety, the Inter-Fraternity Council, the
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Union, the Office of Housing and
Residence Life, the Office of the Vice President for Student Life, the
Office of Women's Affairs, the Panhellenic Council, the Office of
Publications, the Resident Student Association, the Sex Education Task
Force, the Sexual Offense Support Group (SOS), Student Health Services
and the Women's Studies Program.
Questions about specific events should be directed to Donna
Tuites, program coordinator in the University's Office of Women's
Affairs, at 831-8063, or Richard Holland, chairperson for the week's
events, at the Office of Housing and Residence Life, at 831-2602.