By: Erin Gingerich, ENGL 336-001
Ten sexual assault prevention advocates lined the Frostburg State University ARMAH stage on September 15th for the “Red Zone Forum.” The prevention panel provided information in ways to reduce risks of sexual assault, where to go if assaulted, and how to comfort someone who has been assaulted. The panel also discussed the services provided for sexual assault victims, such as counseling, medication attention, and reporting the crime.
“The number one culprit of sexual assault is alcohol,” said Michael Bice, a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor at the Allegany County Health Department. Bice advises students to not drink from any opened containers at parties; the person handing you the drink could have put anything, including a date-rape drug, inside. The Director of Counseling at FSU, Dr. Spencer Deakin, explained to the audience that in his experience with counseling victims, many times both the victim and assaulter had alcohol in their systems when the assault occurred. Dr. Jonathan Gibralter, the President of FSU, remarked on an American College Health Association study that showed seventy four percent of sexual assaults involved alcohol. By avoiding alcohol consumption, students can lower their risks to sexual assault and have a safer college experience.
The panelists talked about the importance of walking in groups, avoiding opened drinks, and trusting any uneasy gut feelings. Although we can reduce our risk for sexual assault, Taness Cline, a Crisis Resource Center counselor, pointed out that no one can completely prevent sexual assault and that it’s important to remember that it’s is not the victim’s fault. Rhona Pick, who also works as a Crisis Resource Center counselor, remarked that “The reality of it is… if they got out alive, whether they laid there or ran, that was the right thing to do.” Pick recognizes that victims of sexual assault sometimes feel guilt about the way they responded to the situation and feel like they are to blame; however, she explains that as long as the victim is alive, that’s what’s most important. Amy Kiddy, a nurse at Brady Health said that when talking to a victim of sexual assault, she always does three things. She said, “I tell the survivor I believe them. I tell them that it’s not their fault, and I give control to them.” She explained that giving the victim control involves letting the victim chose what steps they want to take.
Catherine Deal, a senior at FSU involved in BURG Peer Education Network, is raising awareness for sexual assault with BURG sponsored programs, such as wearing red on specific days, putting up posters reading “Consent is sexy,” and taking part in the Red Zone Forum. Deal said, “You control what you do with your body, and no one should take that away from you.”
Ten sexual assault prevention advocates lined the Frostburg State University ARMAH stage on September 15th for the “Red Zone Forum.” The prevention panel provided information in ways to reduce risks of sexual assault, where to go if assaulted, and how to comfort someone who has been assaulted. The panel also discussed the services provided for sexual assault victims, such as counseling, medication attention, and reporting the crime.
“The number one culprit of sexual assault is alcohol,” said Michael Bice, a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor at the Allegany County Health Department. Bice advises students to not drink from any opened containers at parties; the person handing you the drink could have put anything, including a date-rape drug, inside. The Director of Counseling at FSU, Dr. Spencer Deakin, explained to the audience that in his experience with counseling victims, many times both the victim and assaulter had alcohol in their systems when the assault occurred. Dr. Jonathan Gibralter, the President of FSU, remarked on an American College Health Association study that showed seventy four percent of sexual assaults involved alcohol. By avoiding alcohol consumption, students can lower their risks to sexual assault and have a safer college experience.
The panelists talked about the importance of walking in groups, avoiding opened drinks, and trusting any uneasy gut feelings. Although we can reduce our risk for sexual assault, Taness Cline, a Crisis Resource Center counselor, pointed out that no one can completely prevent sexual assault and that it’s important to remember that it’s is not the victim’s fault. Rhona Pick, who also works as a Crisis Resource Center counselor, remarked that “The reality of it is… if they got out alive, whether they laid there or ran, that was the right thing to do.” Pick recognizes that victims of sexual assault sometimes feel guilt about the way they responded to the situation and feel like they are to blame; however, she explains that as long as the victim is alive, that’s what’s most important. Amy Kiddy, a nurse at Brady Health said that when talking to a victim of sexual assault, she always does three things. She said, “I tell the survivor I believe them. I tell them that it’s not their fault, and I give control to them.” She explained that giving the victim control involves letting the victim chose what steps they want to take.
Catherine Deal, a senior at FSU involved in BURG Peer Education Network, is raising awareness for sexual assault with BURG sponsored programs, such as wearing red on specific days, putting up posters reading “Consent is sexy,” and taking part in the Red Zone Forum. Deal said, “You control what you do with your body, and no one should take that away from you.”
No comments:
Post a Comment