Men take new approach to safety issues

MEN WITH A MESSAGE--From left to right, Joe Cacciola '02, Joshua Alphonse Pollard '05, Ian Cyr '03, and Daryl DuLong '03, are some of the 12 current members of Men Against Sexual Assault.

n 1997, there were many sexual assault education groups on college campuses across the country, but very few focused on the male point of view. In the past two years, the Rochester group, Men Against Sexual Assault, which is funded by the Student Activities Office, has drawn national attention for its innovative approach.

"A lot of the information we present is unexpected and shocking," says Ian Cyr '03. "I remember when I attended the presentation for the first time, I was blown away. I had always imagined sexual assault as something that happens to strangers, not to people you know. Hearing the presentation and learning the truth, it's striking how often rape happens. Giving students who are sexually active this information may make them more cautious, especially guys, because the line between consensual sex and assault is a lot thinner than most people think."

According to MASA, women are ten times more likely than men to be victims of sexual assault, and 1 out of every 5 college-age women report being forced to have sexual intercourse. It's statistics like these that motivate MASA to get the message out, and they do that by giving presentations throughout the year in fraternity houses and dorms as well as to coed groups during freshman orientation. Last year the group was voted number one social presentation by students.

"This was a really unique concept when it first started," says Kathy Sweetland, University intercessor. "But now there are solicitations from student groups across the country who have heard about MASA or visited the Web site and want to form their own group. MASA gives men the opportunity to address the issue and have a voice in a discussion that has traditionally only included women.

"It's exciting for students at the University to have the opportunity to participate in an organization that has made it their mission to create a safe environment for all members of the community."

There are 22 multicultural/awareness groups at the University including MASA. For many students, getting involved and supporting the issues they care about can be a great way to make new friends, develop leadership skills, and discover career paths. For more information, visit www.rochester.edu/living/organizations.

Safety and Security--A top priority at the University, education and prevention are at the heart of that mission. Think Safe, an annual report published by the University Security Services, provides information on steps taken to prevent crime and tips for staying safe. Through student orientation programs, service fairs, and individual residence hall floor presentations, crime prevention staff address some 4,500 students, parents, and employees on personal safety issues yearly. To learn more about safety initiatives at the University, visit http://security.rochester.edu.

And always remember, in an emergency, dial x13 or pick up any Blue Light Emergency Phone on campus to report a crime or request help.

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