One in four college women report being the victim of a rape or attempted rape, according to Men Against Rape, the nationally based sexual-violence awareness and prevention organization. Being the single most unreported crime in the nation, rape is no longer an issue being handled solely by women.
A specially designated group of males at UB, calling themselves the Men's Group, seek to enhance rape education and rape prevention by incorporating a male's perspective on an ever-growing issue in America.
"It is so powerful to hear a group of men raising their voices," said Anna Peryea, a violence prevention specialist for Wellness Education Services. "We're not doing enough; we (as people) have to stop violence."
According to Pedro Sotelo, a graduate student and one of three male coordinators for UB's Men's Group, the group communicates through action and events. They host "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes," during which men walk a mile in high heels, and "Take Back the Night," an evening dedicated to raising awareness of violence against women and sexual assault. These are just a few of many ways the Men's Group looks to make the presence of rape more well known.
"Little by little, this organization has been growing," Sotelo said. "It started as a peer education class, and now there is a wellness minor offered, which is the biggest seller."
According to James Abrose, one of four men leading the national program for rape awareness, the goal of the program is to teach how to help a sexual assault survivor and how men can help.
"We're looking to build victim empathy, teaching men how to help women recover from rape, and challenge men to change their own behavior and influence others," Ambrose said. "We are not here to blame for rape."
Today, social and cultural norms tend to influence a negative view of women, and even encourage sexual violence among females throughout the world, according to J.T. Newberry, another affiliate of the national program. A valuable way of helping to prevent sexual violence is to help bring about change in these social norms, Newberry explained.
"Clich?(c)s carry a bigger meaning than we might realize," Newberry said. "Making women synonymous with weakness and inferiority, it is easy to start taking it seriously and in worse case scenarios, making a wrong decision."
According to a study done by the US Department of Justice, statistics show that 246,000 women survived rape and sexual assault in the year 2000. This computes to 28 women every hour.
In a study, by the US Center for Disease Control, of 5,000 college students at over 100 colleges, 20 percent of women answered "yes" to the question "in your lifetime have you been forced to submit to sexual intercourse against your will?"
These staggering numbers are the inspiration behind the initiatives of these men's activist groups.
"We travel the country in an RV helping to raise awareness about sexual assault," Ambrose said.
According to Don Domenici, a counselor for UB Counseling Services, outreach programs like these are a step in the right direction.
"They make it personal," Domenici said. "Anybody, especially men on college campuses can relate."
Among the men's program's activities, an extremely graphic and disturbing video is shown in hopes of opening viewer's eyes and stepping into the shoes of a sexual assault victim.
"When you feel that connection, it makes you feel more obligated to do something," said Raphael Rosenbaum, a sophomore undecided major. "By coming to a program like this, it gives me the tools necessary to prevent this (rape) from happening."
According to Rosenbaum, these programs are a fantastic opportunity for interested males to learn. Knowing from personal experience of helping a friend who has been raped, the Men's group has proved particularly effective for Rosenbaum.
"I was speechless when that person told me they were raped," Rosenbaum said. "I wasn't there for it, but knowing she was defenseless and I couldn't do anything about it was shocking."
According to Newberry, there are specific ways of helping somebody cope with being raped or sexually assaulted: be especially careful after someone has been sexually assaulted not to add further trauma by putting more pressure on the situation, Newberry warns.
"The first person they go to looking for help is a friend," Newberry said. "Talk less, listen more and above all be a counselor."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
