Defining Rape: Dilemmas, Dangers, and the Need for Civil Discourse
How is rape defined? The answer to this question depends on whether you speak from the general public’s point of view; from the anti-rape movement’s point of view; from the “gray rape” point of view; or from law enforcement’s point of view. Does it matter how rape is defined? The presenter believes it does. How we define rape impacts whether or not we succeed in building national consensus to seriously address this crisis. The presentation looks at assumptions behind the varied definitions while offering challenges to all. In particular, the presentation will suggest, with examples, how the dominant view of rape as articulated in the anti-rape movement is undermining our efforts to communicate the seriousness of rape, particularly to males, as well as undermining the possibility for real female equality. It is a presentation aimed to provoke further discussion, not stake out a rigid position.
Presented by: Gillian Greensite, BA.Dip.Ed., Director, UCSC Rape Prevention Education, Santa Cruz, California
Depression and its Possible Aftermath
One-third of college students will face depression during their college years. Learn the signs of depression so you can help yourself, a loved one, a co-worker, friends, and students. Depression may manifest itself in many ways: anger, irritability, eating disorders, self-mutilation, lying, stealing, and drug and alcohol abuse. There is help possibly through counseling and possibly medication. Sometimes untreated depression can lead to suicide. Andrea’s daughter, Kristin, went into a deep depression after she was raped. Left untreated, that led to her suicide New Year’s Eve 1995. 30% of rape survivors contemplate suicide. Suicide is the 2nd leading killer of college students today. How can one tell if someone is possibly suicidal? How can you help? How does one cope with the attempt or death of a loved one by suicide? Andrea has immersed herself in understanding why her only child committed suicide. She wants other people to gain the same understanding and comfort.
Presented by: Andrea F. Cooper, Professional Speaker/Educator on Rape, Depression, and Suicide, Kristin’s Story, LLC, Castle Rock, Colorado
Every 2 Minutes
Every 2 Minutes (E2M) is an all-female sexual assault peer-education group that was founded in 2002 by a group of female sexual assault survivors at The College of William and Mary. E2M members seek to educate college females about sexual assault by providing information on available resources and the skills necessary to help a friend in any situation that might arise. This program, provided to all incoming first-year females during the orientation process, also focuses on helping a friend recover from a sexual assault experience. This program promotes personal and community empowerment and strategies intended to help college females have the healthiest and safest personal relationships during their time at William and Mary.
Presented by: Cate Domino, Sara Guruswamy, Juliette Jordan, and Taylor Williams; Every 2 Minutes, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
Faculty Education Regarding Sexual Assault and Harassment: Current Status
This presentation focuses on faculty education to prevent sexual violence and sexual harassment. Faculty are in a unique position on college campuses which calls for a different type of educational approach and content than for students and staff. Issues which are particularly salient for faculty include the following: academic freedom, definitional issues of sexual violence, consensual relationships, privacy, confidentiality, gender communication, and the role of the university administration. Other issues which are salient for faculty include fears of unfounded claims, perceived changes in student-teacher relationships, and pedagogy and diversity issues pertaining to interpretation of behavior by various ethnic groups. The current status of faculty education addresses not only the issues discussed with faculty but also the venue employed (i.e., in person versus computer dissemination) and the issues of faculty resistance to this education.
Presented by: Jan Leslie Holtz, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, College of Saint Benedict, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Frat Guys Are Rapists: Why Greek Men Need to Actively Be Involved in Ending Sexual Violence
The first program designed to focus on educating fraternity men on issues of sexual violence. Using informative lecture, multimedia examples, and engaging discussion to treat fraternity men as allies in the fight. Fraternity men are often grouped and demonized because of the bad acts of small numbers of individuals. This cultural stereotype has leaded many Greek men to feel scorned by the movement and in turn, ignore it. To reverse this cultural stereotype, Greek men must stand up, unified, against sexual violence of any kind. This aims to reduce sexual violence through stereotype rejection and bystander education. Presented by two fraternity men, the program takes the realities of sexual violence and stereotypes honestly confronting them. Strategies for reducing bystander behavior and changing cultural stereotypes of fraternities are addressed. Brainstorming will follow addressing the importance of acquiring and engaging Greek allies on campus from a Student Life and Residence Life perspective.
Presented by: Ryan Kubec, BS, and Wes Clark, Programming Coordinator; Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Guard Your Drink, Improve Your Communication, and Take a Self-Defense Class: Responding to Suggestions for Sexual Assault “Prevention” Programs Directed at Women
As anti-sexual assault advocates, how do we respond when colleagues suggest that we create sexual assault “prevention” programs directed primarily at women students? Or when campus decision-makers characterize what are, at best, “risk reduction” measures as “prevention”? How can we educate often well-meaning colleagues about the realities of sexual assault without overtly or subtly accusing them of engaging in victim-blaming behavior? Most importantly, how can we keep campus resources from being diverted from true prevention efforts to programs that misinform and perpetuate rape myths? Drawing from a program developed when they were asked to educate women students on “preventing” sexual assault, the presenters share methods for advocates to use in: 1) educating colleagues and students about the differences between “risk reduction” and “prevention” programs; and 2) convincing these audiences to move from exclusive reliance on risk- reducing methods to more comprehensive, effective, non-victim-blaming prevention efforts.
Presented by: Jen Luettel Schweer, MA, LPC, Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Services Coordinator, Georgetown University Health Education Services, and Nancy Cantalupo, JD, Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs, Georgetown University Law Center; Washington, DC
Holistic Approaches to Empowering Survivors
This workshop will provide a variety of hands-on, innovative approaches to empower survivors to identify their inherent ability to heal and continue self-growth using creative expression, art, music, spoken word, aromatherapy, yoga, and mindfulness, among other techniques. This workshop will provide both survivors and educators the opportunity to both learn and experience the self-healing powers of holistic approaches to personal health and inner growth.
Presented by: Alexandra Milspaw, M.Ed., Counselor and Educator, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Nayla Raad, MA, San Francisco Women Against Rape, San Francisco, California
Kristin’s Story: A Mother’s Account of Acquaintance Rape, Depression, and Suicide
“Kristin’s Story” is the personal account of Andrea’s daughter who was raped by a “friend”, went into a deep depression, and committed suicide. Andrea discusses what she learned about the rape, the depression, and the resulting suicide. Andrea stresses the importance of friends and relatives recognizing the signs of depression, possibly being suicidal and how to support the survivor and get her/him help. By some estimates, one in four women will be sexually assaulted during her college career. How can family, friends, professors, and advisors help? This presentation is appropriate for college students and professionals. It will expose the audience to a first-hand account of rape, depression, and suicide, and how it went unrecognized. Thirty per cent of rape survivors contemplate suicide.
Presented by: Andrea F. Cooper, Professional Speaker/Educator on Rape, Depression, and Suicide, Kristin’s Story, LLC, Castle Rock, Colorado
Latest Rape Myth: Using the Law to Break the Silence Surrounding Peer Sexual Violence on Campus
Institutional responses to peer sexual violence on campus perpetuate a cycle of non-reporting and violence. To break the cycle, schools need to become more victim-centered in their responses. Nevertheless, schools often resist adopting such victim-centered approaches, citing potential liability relating to accused student’s rights. This justification is a myth. In reality, the law supports victim-centered institutional responses. As an attorney, activist, and victim’s advocate, the presenter will impart legal knowledge that anti-sexual violence advocates can use in debunking this myth and moving schools towards responses that will break the cycle of non-reporting and violence and seek ultimately to end the violence. The presentation will draw on a comprehensive review of legislation dealing with campus peer sexual violence, such as Title IX and the Clery Act, and the case law and administrative enforcement of these laws, to be published in the Journal of College and University Law in June 2009.
Presented by: Nancy Cantalupo, JD, Assistant Dean for Clinical Programs, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC
