Men must ‘step up' to help end sexual violence
by Anna Oakes
As the new primary prevention intern at OASIS, Appalachian State University senior Cheston Harris wants to raise awareness about sexual violence — especially among college men.
“It's important for men, especially college men, to think of this as everyone's issue,” Harris said. “Historically, it's been treated as a women's issue, but it affects everyone. Men everywhere need to step up and try and put that effort forth, too.”
Harris, a senior sociology and psychology major, previously worked with Boone-based OASIS (Opposing Abuse with Service, Information and Shelter) through the ASU sociology club and as a crisis line volunteer.
He began his internship this semester by participating in training provided by the national organization Men Can Stop Rape in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4 to 6.
The training, attended by men and women, equipped Harris with strategies such as interactive group exercises and multimedia presentations to aid in developing and leading prevention initiatives. One activity began by asking men what they did in their daily lives to prevent being raped.
“The answer is essentially nothing,” Harris said. “Men don't have to live in fear of that.”
The activity then asks women the same question.
“The lists are so incongruent,” Harris said. “To me it's shameful how little I think about it on a daily basis because I don't have to live in that fear.”
Last year, Boone Police responded to seven reports of rape, two reports of aggravated assault with sexual motive and six reports of simple assault with sexual motive.
The Watauga County Sheriff's Office received two reports of simple assault with sexual motive, three reports of simple nonphysical assault with sexual motive and 16 reports of other sex offenses.
University Police received no reports of rape or sexual assault on the ASU campus in 2011.
Law enforcement reports don't tell the whole story, OASIS representatives said.
“Sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes,” said Jenny Fairchild, OASIS prevention coordinator.
OASIS served 48 victims of sexual assault from Watauga County in 2011, and 22 of them were between the ages of 18 and 25, said Kerry Gersonde, OASIS director of client services.
“It's safe to say that 50 percent (of the clients) we serve are ASU students,” Gersonde added.
A 2010 survey by the Centers for Disease Control found that approximately 80 percent of female victims experienced their first rape before age 25.
“So we know that our strategies really need to work with young people,” Fairchild said.
The OASIS representatives acknowledged that growing numbers of men are survivors of violence, but men continue to account for the vast majority of sexual violence perpetrators.
“Men need to be involved to hold other men accountable,” Fairchild said.
Harris said he will work on a poster campaign and other events to correspond with Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. He'll also assist OASIS with updating a community survey last issued in 2007.
One significant finding of the 2007 survey was that 80 percent of victims knew the perpetrator. That's important, noted OASIS associate director Rebecca Gummere, because in the past, rape prevention strategies encouraged women to protect themselves from strangers: Don't walk by yourself. Scream. Carry a whistle. But if the perpetrator is someone known to you, those strategies aren't applicable.
For more information about sexual assault prevention, call (828) 264-1532 or visit http://www.oasisinc.org . To seek help, call the 24-hour crisis line at (828) 262-5035.
“It's important for men, especially college men, to think of this as everyone's issue,” Harris said. “Historically, it's been treated as a women's issue, but it affects everyone. Men everywhere need to step up and try and put that effort forth, too.”
Harris, a senior sociology and psychology major, previously worked with Boone-based OASIS (Opposing Abuse with Service, Information and Shelter) through the ASU sociology club and as a crisis line volunteer.
He began his internship this semester by participating in training provided by the national organization Men Can Stop Rape in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4 to 6.
The training, attended by men and women, equipped Harris with strategies such as interactive group exercises and multimedia presentations to aid in developing and leading prevention initiatives. One activity began by asking men what they did in their daily lives to prevent being raped.
“The answer is essentially nothing,” Harris said. “Men don't have to live in fear of that.”
The activity then asks women the same question.
“The lists are so incongruent,” Harris said. “To me it's shameful how little I think about it on a daily basis because I don't have to live in that fear.”
Last year, Boone Police responded to seven reports of rape, two reports of aggravated assault with sexual motive and six reports of simple assault with sexual motive.
The Watauga County Sheriff's Office received two reports of simple assault with sexual motive, three reports of simple nonphysical assault with sexual motive and 16 reports of other sex offenses.
University Police received no reports of rape or sexual assault on the ASU campus in 2011.
Law enforcement reports don't tell the whole story, OASIS representatives said.
“Sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes,” said Jenny Fairchild, OASIS prevention coordinator.
OASIS served 48 victims of sexual assault from Watauga County in 2011, and 22 of them were between the ages of 18 and 25, said Kerry Gersonde, OASIS director of client services.
“It's safe to say that 50 percent (of the clients) we serve are ASU students,” Gersonde added.
A 2010 survey by the Centers for Disease Control found that approximately 80 percent of female victims experienced their first rape before age 25.
“So we know that our strategies really need to work with young people,” Fairchild said.
The OASIS representatives acknowledged that growing numbers of men are survivors of violence, but men continue to account for the vast majority of sexual violence perpetrators.
“Men need to be involved to hold other men accountable,” Fairchild said.
Harris said he will work on a poster campaign and other events to correspond with Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. He'll also assist OASIS with updating a community survey last issued in 2007.
One significant finding of the 2007 survey was that 80 percent of victims knew the perpetrator. That's important, noted OASIS associate director Rebecca Gummere, because in the past, rape prevention strategies encouraged women to protect themselves from strangers: Don't walk by yourself. Scream. Carry a whistle. But if the perpetrator is someone known to you, those strategies aren't applicable.
For more information about sexual assault prevention, call (828) 264-1532 or visit http://www.oasisinc.org . To seek help, call the 24-hour crisis line at (828) 262-5035.