One in four college women will be a victim of a sexual assault or an attempted assault, and one in eight men will be a victim of a sexual assault sometime in his lifetime, according to Student Health Service officials at West Virginia University.
To raise awareness on the issue and educate students on how to protect themselves, Deb Beazley iscardingstudents Thursday, Sept. 27, at WVU . She and her team of volunteers will be fanning out around campus and Morgantown to hand out wallet-sized cards with statistics, tips on reducing the risk of sexual assault and what to do if students are assaulted.
The annual Get Carded project partners WVU s Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Office at the Student Health Service with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). Beazley, a WVU sexual assault prevention educator, said the cards have important safety reminders such as watch drinks as theyre being prepared, never leave beverages unattended, and make sure cell phones are well charged and you have emergency cab fair when going out for the evening.
This event provides us with another opportunity to reach our students with an important message,she said.The cards that our volunteers will distribute provide important information, but more importantly, they are reminders to students to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim.
Students are also encouraged to attend a presentation on sexual assault prevention hosted by the Center of Excellence in Womens Health.Welcome to the Partya film about the risks associated with alcohol use, directed by Jerry McGonigle, WVU associate professor of acting and directingwill be shown at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Rhododendron Room of the Mountainlair.
Beazley said the event is occurring at a critical time during the college semester.
During the first few weeks of a new term, first-year students are the most vulnerable,she said.They are experiencing social activities and situations that involve alcoholmany for the first time.
In my lectures, I tell students to always be aware of what is going on around them,she added.Know where you are, know where your friends are, and trust what your little voice is telling you. If you feel uncomfortable or things are getting out of hand, get out of there and get help.
Beazley said increased awareness may be helping to reduce the number of sexual assaults. Since 1993, sexual assault has decreased by 69 percent, according to RAINN . Acquaintance sexual assault, where the victim knows the perpetrator, remains the most common form of sexual assault, she noted.
At WVU , efforts to educate students on the topic include classroom lectures, presentations and activities sponsored by the Student Health Service; a resource library at the Sexual Assault Prevention Education Office with books, articles and videos; and a sexual assault nurse examiner at Student Health Service who can assist students with reporting incidents and receiving medical care and counseling. Exams are free and confidential to students.
Its important for women that have been assaulted to know they are not at fault and there are many people to support them,Beazley said.Most importantly, they need to get to a safe location and get help quickly. Contacting the police and seeking immediate medical attention are critical.
Emergency contacts include the campus police, 304-293-3136; Ruby Memorial Hospital emergency room, 304-598-4172; Morgantown City Police, 304-284-7444; WVU Student Health Service, 304-293-2311; Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, 304-293-2311; and WVU Sexual Assault Prevention Educator and Response Coordinator, 304-290-1377.