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

[MIKE DOMITRZ <>]

In the past 24 hours, both "Dear Abby" and "Nancy Grace" addressed cases of 
sexual assault.  If you want to utilize these media/entertainment segments 
with students for analysis, here are the links below.  As always, we would 
recommend a disclaimer before discussing (for anyone in the class who could 
be uncomfortable with a discussion on sexual assault):

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2011/01/28/ng.teacher.student.car.hln?hpt=T2

http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/ under "Dear Needs Support";

Below, are some quick thoughts on each. 

I would have liked to see "Dear Abby" focus more on how STRONG and COURAGEOUS 
the survivor is for sharing and then let the survivor know she DESERVES to 
talk with someone - starting with calling the local crisis center (she does 
reference RAINN as the last option in her piece).  While I understand "Dear 
Abby" is meaning well in her intentions, telling the daughter to tell Mom 
FIRST without having any support system (such as an Advocate or Counselor) or 
knowing how Mom might react could do more damage to the survivor.  She tells 
the survivor many survivors make the mistake of thinking people will treat 
them differently if they come forward.  Reality is her Mom might treat her 
different and she might not.  If her Mom does treat her differently, the 
survivor may never want to seek support again because her greatest fear will 
have come true (and "Dear Abby" implied it wouldn't).  I want to stress the 
purpose of sharing this "Dear Abby" column is NOT to criticize "Dear Abby" - 
instead to use this piece with students as a discussion point.  

Nancy Grace discusses the hypocrisy of how the media treats a "female teacher 
assaulted a male student" by referring to the situation as "they were caught 
fooling around."  This quick video also could provoke some healthy and 
thought-provoking discussion.

Your Fan,
Mike Domitrz
http://www.DateSafeProject.org
Toll-Free: 800-329-9390