It still is one of the most startling statistics to be heard in college -- that out of every four college women, one will have been the survivor of rape or a sexual assault after they have turned 14.
One in Four, an all-male group at the University, directly challenges this statistic through its mission to lower rape and sexual assault occurrences by educating males. Its presentation, "How to Help a Sexual Assault Survivor: What Men Can Do." will be held today at the lower west Oval Room of the Rotunda from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The presentation is given year-round, generally to all-male groups such as fraternities and male sports teams, but today's presentation is open to males and females.
"We didn't want it to be the kind of situation where women feel like they are excluded from it," said Jonathan Cleborne, fourth-year College student and One in Four member. Therefore, he continued, presentations are given to co-ed audiences at least once a semester.
The reason for the typically single sexed audience is that "studies had shown that guys respond better with an all-male audience," Cleborne said.
One in Four, he said, is different from the average group that focuses on decreasing sexual assault.
"Typical programs tend to make guys defensive because they approach them as potential rapists."
One-in-Four's approach is to show males what they can do to positively affect the issue.
The presentation starts off with the group defining rape and sexual assault, followed by a disclaimer, warning the audience that what they see and hear might be disturbing. Then a police training video is shown that depicts a male-on-male rape situation.
"Right after the video the guys are dumfounded," Cleborne said. "They sit in a state of shock, wow."
The video is shown to give the viewers an idea of what rape is like, Cleborne said. The presenters then draw comparisons between the scene depicted in the video and a typical rape case with a female as a victim and a male as the perpetrator. The program then presents ways for men to help a survivor of sexual abuse, should she come to him for help.
It "throws out suggestions should a woman come to them in this situation," Cleborne said. "Guys tend to be very willing and eager to listen," he added, "because all guys have a girlfriend or a sister that they can imagine this happening to."
Cleborne said he hopes that people, "leave the program feeling empowered because basically they come away with concrete ways to help someone they care about."
One-in-Four has 25 active members and gave 45 presentations last year to over 1,300 people.
Although Cleborne said that U. Va. is very supportive in encouraging and aiding groups like One in Four in conveying their message to the University community, "a lot of guys don't realize how common it is and also that it is a very traumatic experience," Cleborne said.
Tomorrow is an opportunity to become part of that realization.
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