One in Four: for educating men on dealing with sexual assault

Kelly Kookoothe — Thu, 03 May 2007 17:00:57 +0000

One in four women will be victims of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. For this exact reason, men of John Carroll University have come together and formed a group known as One in Four, named for the statistic that one in four college aged woman have been sexually assaulted.
As it is known, most sexual assaults are against women. One in Four’s president, junior Mike Ward says the group tries to focus on educating others about sexual assault.
“One in Four’s goal is to inform men what they can do in order to help a sexual assault survivor recover,” says Ward.
According to oneinfourusa.org the group’s mission is “To eventually end rape and sexual assault in the United States through groundbreaking research and superior educational programming and for there to be no more need for our organization.”
According the group’s advisor, Ryan Knotts, the group has been on JCU’s campus since the fall of 2005, but it was a rocky start.
In January 2006 the group had nine members, but seven dropped out, leaving the group with only three members by May.
This fall brought a whole different story for One in Four, with September recruitment bringing in seven dedicated members. These seven are what really moved the group forward as they put on their presentation for male RA’s, fraternities, ROTC, FYS and other classes.
With the fall’s success, the group added another four after winter recruitment. According to Knotts, the group has put on a total of 15 presentations this year.
Ward agrees with Knotts and says that the group’s biggest accomplishment this year is the “increased number of people in the group as well as presentations given.”
The presentations put on by the group consist of “defining exactly what sexual assault and rape are, presenting a video that helps men realize more fully what it might be like to be sexually assaulted, and then going over specific steps to take in order to begin the road to recovery for someone who experienced a sexual assault,” according to Ward.
To advance their progress, the group is now in the process of forming the women’s version called Every Two Minutes, named for the statistic that every two minutes, a woman is sexually assaulted.
Even with a decreased number of two reported sexual assaults this year, the group feels like they still have a long way to go.
Knotts explained that his hopes are that all freshmen men and all new members to the fraternities see their presentation.
“It has to start with men,” Knotts says. Ward and Knotts both look to expand, there will be more recruitment in the fall.
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CSS-caring, sensitive, sensational

Kelly Kookoothe — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:00:38 +0000

Many times, when reading my pages for the paper on Tuesday nights, I come across articles belittling one very important campus organization.

I am talking about CSS. Yes, Campus Safety Services. Day in and day out, they are on campus (and off, if Miramar and Milford count) to make sure we are protected from anything that might come into the bubble we call John Carroll University.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “You’re crazy, CSS stole my five cases of beer last week when I was carrying them into Pacelli.”

While yes, I can think of a few incidents that indeed made me feel this very way.

Take for example the day my boyfriend wanted to take me out on a nice date.

Oh wait, can’t, he’s got a boot on his car. Or the time when my 21-year-old roommate was carrying beer in the parking lot and it was confiscated.

I know, I know…you’re still waiting to hear the good things about CSS, so here I go.

Let’s start with sophomore year when I was trying to depart Millor Hall to go to work, my car was buried in the snow. One kind CSS officer came and dug me out.

Not only was I relieved to finally get off campus, but also relieved I would not be getting fired from my job because I didn’t show up.

Next, the most recent and most important, the other night when the blizzard of ‘07 was in full gear (1:30 a.m.), I was ready to depart the newsroom to my John Carroll owned, off-campus residence.

My roommate was kind enough to offer a ride so I would not need to risk my car’s health in the snow.

She tells me she will be there in a minute so I went upstairs and waited for her.

At this point, she is calling to inform me that her SUV was stuck right outside our garage.

Luckily, I see a kind CSS officer just exiting his infamous blue blazer. I approach for an escort home (that’s a service they offer in case you didn’t know).

After kindly accepting my request, I was home safely.

Let’s rethink our attitudes. I know they would do the same for you. It’s time to stop complaining about the bad and look at the good. CSS is there for your protection, don’t take that for granted.

I wish I knew those two CSS officers’ names.

If I did I would send

The Carroll News » Kelly Kookoothe

One in Four: for educating men on dealing with sexual assault

CSS-caring, sensitive, sensational