Vol. 17, No. 5	Oct. 2, 1997

Sexual Assault Awareness Week begins tomorrow

The University will offer a number of varied programs, exhibitions and workshops as it marks the 1997 edition of Sexual Assault Awareness Week on its Newark campus from Oct. 3-9.

This year's keynote speaker will be Katie Koestner, a former student at the College of William and Mary where she was sexually assaulted by a fellow student. After going public with her story, she helped bring the debate over "date rape" to the media's attention.

Most events will take place in the Trabant University Center and the Perkins Student Center, and the activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Plays and performances

She Lived, he Said, an original one-act play about surviving incest, will be presented at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4, in the Bacchus Theatre of the Perkins Student Center. After the performance, a facilitated discussion will be held involving the audience, the cast, the writer and the director.

At 8:30 p.m., Oct. 7, in the Hen Zone of the Perkins Student Center, the Not Quite Ready for Bed players will perform skits about abstinence, safe sex, HIV/AIDS, sexual assault and other relevant topics.

From 7-8:30 p.m., Oct. 8, in the Bacchus Theatre of the Perkins Student Center, actors with Woman Theatre Inc. of Philadelphia will improvise scenes about dating abuse with verbal, psychological, physical and sexual violence depicted through different stages of relationships.

At 8:30 p.m., Oct. 9, Antje Duvekot, a local singer and writer of songs about women, men and relationships, will appear in the Hen Zone.

Panels and presentations

A panel discussion on date rape and the law will be presented from noon-1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 6, in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center. Brown bag lunches are encouraged and beverages will be served.

Koestner will present the week's keynote address at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 6, in Multipurpose Rooms A-C of the Trabant University Center, followed by a "Meet Katie and Brett" pizza party. Brett Sokolaw is Koestner's co-facilitator.

Earlier that day, from 3-4:30 p.m., in Multipurpose Rooms A-C, Koestner will participate in a Division of Student Life professional development workshop, open only to UD employees. Koestner will talk to faculty and staff about what an assaulted student might be experiencing and how to identify and support a possible victim.

From noon-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Multipurpose Rooms A-B of the Trabant University Center, members of the University's public safety staff will discuss and demonstrate Rape Aggression Defense techniques and talk about how to assist victims. Beverages will be served, and brown bag lunches are encouraged.

"Men of Conscience" is the subject of a talk scheduled from 4-5:30 p.m., Oct. 7, in Multipurpose Room B of the Trabant University Center. Harry Brod, assistant professor of philosophy at UD, will discuss the practical things men can do to nurture relationships with women that are mutually respectful, caring and empowering.

From 7-8:15 p.m., in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center, a discussion of same-sex rape will be held. Michael Scarce-a victim of male-on-male sexual violence, coordinator of the Rape Education and Prevention Program at Ohio State University and author of Male-on-Male Rape: The Hidden Toll of the Stigma and Shame-will discuss the effect this largely ignored crime has on its victims and on society.

From 1:30-3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, "Beyond Sexual Assault: Issues in Healing, Part I" will be focus on the short-and long-term effects of sexual assault and how they can be lessened. The program is scheduled in Multipurpose Room C of the Trabant University Center.

"Body and Soul" will be the topic of a workshop from 5-6 p.m., Oct. 8, in Multipurpose Room C of the Trabant University Center. Featured will be educators from UD's Sexual Offense Support Service, who will facilitate a discussion on how survivors feel and how best to help them.

The second part of "Beyond Sexual Assault: Issues in Healing" will be held from 1:30-3 p.m., Oct. 9, in the Collins Room of the Perkins Student Center. The session will deal with the experience of assault and the social realities that make assault possible.

From 3-6:30 p.m., Oct. 9, in the Kirkwood Room of the Perkins Student Center, a private environment will be provided for anyone wishing to design and decorate a T-shirt depicting their experiences with sexual assault, domestic violence, incest or other forms of relationship abuse. Materials will be provided.

An interfaith service, with representatives of various campus ministries leading the group in prayer, song and liturgy, will be held from 7-8 p.m., Oct. 9, in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center.

Campus march

Campus and community members are invited to join the annual "Take Back the Night" march in support of a safe campus, sexual assault awareness and victims' rights. The march will begin at 5:45 p.m., Oct. 7, on the Newark campus Mall in front of Harter and Sharp Halls and will end at the Perkins Student Center. Candles, buttons and T-shirts will be available to marchers.

-Barbara Garrison