Peer groups address violence

In honoring the first ever Domestic Violence Awareness week, campus peer education groups came together last night to discuss sexual violence among University students. Panel members said the discussion group was brought together to examine how various types of abuses -- alcohol and drug abuse in particular -- are interrelated and often lead to sexual wrongdoings. Those in attendance of the gathering in Bodek Lounge said they hoped the discussion would educate students and help prevent future abuses. "There are a lot of things that go on here that most students do not know anything about," said John Wylie, from Victim Support Services. Panel members added that they want the University to focus energies on the specific University communities which have seemed most vulnerable to violence -- freshman and international students. "A lot of things intimidate students when they first come here," said College junior Malika Levy, representing Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health. "It takes a while to gain the feeling that one is not powerless." Representatives from Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape said they wanted to refute the misconception that acquaintance rape does not occur at the University simply because it is an Ivy League school. "People have to stop thinking about rape as only the stereotypical stranger experience," STAAR member and College senior Meredith Francis said. "Rape is here now. Studies show that rape transcends intellectual, racial and socio-economic communities." Discussion participants said it was important that students recognize the connection between acquaintance rape, alcohol, racism and sexism. "All these issues are interrelated, you cannot look at them through one lens anymore," said Susan Loeb, an Alcohol and Drug Education social work intern. Drug and Alcohol Resource Team representative, Nathalie Torrens said alcohol has a much stronger effect than people might expect. And statistics seem to support the College junior's conclusion. The National Institute of Mental Health recently published a study conducted on 32 college campuses which discovered that 75 percent of men and 50 percent of women involved in violent encounters have been drinking. "While alcohol is not a sexual stimulant, it is a social lubricant," said Torrens. "When people drink, inhibitions are down and decisions are harder to make. The common sense you depend on may not work for you." Levy also said that having an active Greek system at the University has effects that are both good and bad. "[Fraternities and sororities] have a lot of parties where alcohol is available, and [abuse that] happens at parties often happens between people who know each other." All of the educators said they agreed the key to avoiding domestic violence, is empowerment -- a sense of self-esteem and awareness among men and women which will prevent them from allowing domestic violence to happen to them or to their friends.