Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Ben Atherton-Zeman - Feminist, Actor and Husband" <>]

Hello!  I've read and posted many times on the SAPC list, for this past year. 
 But I've never really introduced myself and talked about what I do - I 
partly wasn't sure of the etiquette, but Claire Kaplan said it'd be all right 
(thanks, Claire!).  

My play, "Voices of Men," is available to come to colleges this Spring.  The 
play uses humor and celebrity male voice impressions to educate college 
students about sexual assault, consent, dating violence, objectification - 
and I just added a scene on stalking.  

I wrote the play as a comedy to reach young men in particular - I find it 
helps get past their defensiveness that can be sadly common when we talk to 
them about these issues.  As I travel to colleges, I try to not just teach 
young men, but engage them in sexual assault prevention activities.

Lately, when I've gone to campuses, I stay for two days, perform the play, 
then give guest talks in classrooms (sometimes with interactive theatre 
included), staff trainings on how to involve men on your campus, mentoring 
male leaders, etc.  So you get to "work me" when I'm there!

Whether it's for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, orientation this fall, or 
simply a special event, I'd be happy to help make a difference on your 
campus.  Sexual assault is mostly perpetrated by men - it's high time that 
more men did something about it.  

Thank you so much for the important work you do!  - Ben

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Acton MA USA
Actor, Comedian, Feminist and Husband
Presenting a One-Man Play: "Voices of Men," www.voicesofmen.org (video clips 
take a second to load)
Booking information: 978-263-3254

January 2006 quote: "The greatest single failure of the battered women's 
movement was that we became too much of a service delivery system and too 
little a social change movement." 
- Suzanne Pharr, as quoted on the website of the New York Model for Batterer 
Programs www.nymbp.org
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Subject: Campus Handling of Suspected "Date Rape" Druggings
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Thread-Topic: Campus Handling of Suspected "Date Rape" Druggings
Thread-Index: AcYoGjUOUTMCjJATSx6Gup/GlvSvqg=From: "Ross A Wantland" 
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Hey y'all,

  You are my well-spring of knowledge, and I could use some of your
creative brainpower right now. In my job, I have been hearing an
increasing number of stories from women who believe they were drugged,
either at a party or bar or informal setting. Sometimes these stories
end with a crime (such as rape), but more often, I hear of stories where
the student believes they were drugged, and they somehow made it home
safely (due to friends, bar managers, etc.). 

  Our campus health center does not provide testing for date rape drugs,
at least in part because 1) it is so incredibly expensive and 2) in
Illinois, drugging someone - by itself - is not a crime. Students who go
to our student health center to be tested are usually forwarded on to
our local hospitals, but even then, the hospitals will charge the
student or student's insurance for the test. (which brings up the issue
of parents finding out). I have been talking with a student who was
drugged (but not assaulted) last semester and was concerned to find out
the lack of formal procedures around this. 

   So my question to you, how do your campuses address "date rape
drugs"? Besides telling female students to "cover their drink", what
sorts of direct education/intervention, or administrative efforts have
you undertaken? Does anyone use anonymous reporting procedures to track
suspected "date rape druggings"? Even if a sexual assault was not
committed? Thanks for your help and brainpower in advance.

  Keep on rocking!

In peace,

Ross

 

_____________________________________

Ross A. Wantland

Coordinator of Sexual Assault Education

300 Student Services Bldg. (MC-306)

610 E. John St.

Champaign, IL 61820

217-333-3137