Students Stopping Rape

Both Genders Protest Sexual Assault, Rapes

posted by Admin (Our Press)

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Male and female students are joining forces to combat rape and sexual assault as the third annual “I Want a Truce” campaign kicks off today.

Sponsored by the Women’s Center and UCSB Rape Prevention Education Program, the “I Want a Truce” campaign aims to keep this weekend sexual violence-free, educating students about sexual assault and rape prevention efforts along the way. Throughout the week, T-shirts bearing the slogan “I Want a Truce” will be handed out in front of the Women’s Center on campus to people who pledge to avoid nonconsensual sex this weekend, from Oct. 20 to 23.

This year’s campaign, which cost approximately $2,000 to organize, will include events hosted by Students Stopping Rape (SSR) and Men Against Rape (MAR), said SSR Co-Coordinator Katie Mahon. Tonight at 6:30, Men Against Rape will kick off the event lineup with a mock game show in the Women’s Center Library titled “Guess the Rapist,” Mahon said, in which participants try to pick out a fictional rapist from among a panel of actors.

Mahon, a third-year communication and sociology major, said people have asked her why the campaign only pushes for one weekend free of sexual assault. She said the three-day goal is just a starting point in the fight against sexual violence in Isla Vista.

“A lot of people laugh - ‘just this weekend?’” Mahon said. “There are 350 to 500 sexual assaults per year in the Isla Vista community, which is at least one per day. It’s just the weekend to start with, then we can ask for more.”

Mahon said the campaign was inspired by a speech by Andrea Dworkin, a prominent feminist and author, in which Dworkin likened sexual assaults to a war against women and demanded that there be at least one day in which nobody was a victim of rape.

One misconception about the “I Want a Truce” campaign is that it aims to demonize sex, Mahon said, but the goal of the campaign is merely to put a stop to sex that is forced or nonconsensual.

“We’re not against sex, we just ask that it be consensual.” Mahon said.

Students Stopping Rape and Men Against Rape are also coordinating a parade down Del Playa Drive and Sabado Tarde Road at 10:30 p.m. Friday. During the parade, members of both organizations will distribute free candy and condoms, Mahon said, in an effort to encourage local residents to make sure that any sex they have over the weekend is safe, as well as consensual.

“Speak,” a film depicting the journey of a girl who is raped and is afraid to report it, will be shown in Anacapa Hall and Francisco Torres at 7 p.m. Thursday. Following the movie, peer educators from SSR and MAR will lead discussions about the film and answer questions from the audience, Mahon said.

Mahon said the “I Want a Truce” campaign recognizes sexual assault as a worldwide problem and demands equal consideration for every person regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or appearance. She said educating people about sexual violence is more important than the statistics about how many rapes and sexual assaults the campaign prevents.

“I don’t think about the numbers,” Mahon said. “I think about the people we’re helping.”

Sexual Assault Statistics Not Indicative of Scary Reality

posted by Admin (Our Press)

by Katie Mahon
[ View original Daily Nexus article ]

My name is Katie Mahon, and I am one of the coordinators of Students Stopping Rape, an organization of undergraduate and graduate students who help educate the UCSB and the surrounding community about how to prevent, create awareness and facilitate discussion about sexual assault.

I am writing in response to Wednesday’s article “Yearly Brief Notes Crime Fluctuation for UC Campuses” (Daily Nexus, Oct. 5, 2005). First of all, kudos to the Nexus for including this article; in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act, statistics on reported crimes are published annually, and this year, were sent to all UCSB students via email.

The article stated that between 2003 and 2004, there were a total of 13 forcible sexual offenses on campus. Furthermore, the Clery Report shows that nine of these incidents were reported to law enforcement. In addition, there were 12 reported incidents in Isla Visa and one reported incident in a student organization (this includes any organization that is affiliated with UCSB, but does not have a residence on campus). All of this means that in 2004, there were 22 forcible sexual offenses that were reported to law enforcement on campus and in I.V. I am writing to explain all of these numbers.

First of all, it is important to note that these statistics include only the reported cases of forcible sex. In a study done at 32 universities it was found that only five percent of rape survivors report their rapes to law enforcement. This means that over 400 incidences of rape could have occurred last year on campus and in I.V. which would mean that over 400 women were the victims — and I hate using that word because these women are much more powerful than what the word implies — of a horrific and brutal crime.

So now you see why I am writing this article. I was really afraid that too many people would pick up last Wednesday’s paper, read that 13 rapes had occurred over the past year and shrug it off as no big deal - as something that could never affect them. If you ask me, 400 rapes is way too many. If you ask me, one rape is too many. These numbers — these women being raped — are our roommates, our girlfriends, our sisters, our classmates, our neighbors — they could even be us.

I am not writing this article to scare any of you; I am writing to shock you. I am writing to show you that sexual assault is a huge problem in Isla Vista and the rest of the world, and I am writing in hopes that you will want to do something about this problem. Students Stopping Rape is a great place to start learning about rape culture, sexual violence, and what you can do to help make the world a safer place for all women. We meet on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Women’s Center and are always happy to have new members. If you have any questions, concerns, comments or just want more information, please feel free to contact me at the Women’s Center at 893-3778 or you can check out our website at http://orgs.sa.ucsb.edu/ssr.

Katie Mahon is a third-year communication and sociology major.

Sexual Harassment Isn’t Something to Sneeze At

posted by Admin (Our Press)

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Editor, Daily Nexus,

Dianne Jobson’s article “Greek Groper Deserves Punch to the Groin” (Daily Nexus, Oct. 4, 2005) brought up an important issue. How many women out there reading this have had their ass grabbed while out walking or partying in I.V.? Chances are, most of you. Here’s something you may not know: ass-grabbing is a form of sexual assault. Sexual assault is any non-consensual sexual contact - this can range from unwanted touching to kissing to intercourse to catcalling (yes, I’m talking to you, DP guys who stand on your balconies yelling deeply profound comments such as “Look at that ass!” or “Hey baby, come up here and give me some of that!” to women). Did that girl have a sign on her that said, “Please grab my ass, guy I just met at the party”? I didn’t think so. In response to the Campus Clery Report - keep in mind that the number of sexual offenses listed here is only the number of assaults that are actually reported. On a college campus such as ours, the estimated number of occurrences each year is much higher given the fact that only five percent of rapes are reported. Why wouldn’t a survivor report, you ask? Several reasons, including the fear of not being believed, fear of being called a “slut,” embarrassment, or, hey, how about this: most assaults are committed by someone the victim already knows. If you want more information on issues such as these, Students Stopping Rape meets every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. in the Women’s Center. All are welcome.

Kelly Schoonover, Media Intern - Students Stopping Rape