MU Rape Education Office works to heighten awareness with month of activities
by Kim Cross, posted Sept. 20, 2007
Rape Awareness Month kicked off this September with multiple events to promote awareness about the topics of rape and sexual assault. It also encourages students to come together and openly discuss the issues.
“The beginning of the school year is a high risk time so we started our event in September,” said Laura Hacquard, director of the MU Women’s Center and rape education program. “We still participate in the nationwide event in April with other campuses as well.”
The Rape Education Office has been promoting the month for about 13 years. Every year that passes shows an increase in students wanting to get involved and support from the University faculty and staff as well. The program is an auxiliary of the Missouri Student Association and is staffed by four graduate assistants.
“We want to increase the level of awareness about what rape and sexual assault are and their effects on victims,” Hacquard said.
Four organizations that help to sponsor events in conjunction with the MU Rape Education Center and the Women’s Center are Standing Together Against Rape (STAR); Peer Educators, who are trained to help students who want to talk about issues; Greek Advocates, fraternity and sorority members who spread information throughout the Greek community; and Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (MARS).
“I think it’s a good thing that we have something like this, especially on a college campus,” said Jessica Alexander, a sophomore journalism and sociology major. “The bulletin boards in my residence hall get my attention with all the alarming facts. Girls need to be informed about this stuff, but guys do too. It’s a two-way street.”
Rape Awareness Month isn’t just something for women to be aware of; there are events for men as well. On Sept. 12, MARS hosted an event called “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” in which filmmaker Byron Hurt takes a look at how manhood and masculinity is portrayed in rap and hip hop.
“I think a lot of guys justify certain behaviors and don’t consider it rape,” said Justin Siebert, a sophomore biological engineering major. “Some people have disturbing views of what ‘no’ means so it’s good that the campus is holding these events.”
A national event, “Take Back the Night,” will be held Monday, Sept. 25. This event raises awareness in the community about violence against women. There will be activities that include opportunities for survivors to speak out about their experiences.
“We want people to feel like they can talk to others about these topics and show diversity,” Hacquard said. “We want to raise awareness and have safe environments for people, which is hard when the general public is unaware of what really goes on in the night.”
For more information on upcoming events, contact the Rape Education Office or the Women’s Center.
