John Mallory, of Marietta, is one of the four speakers and founders of “No More: Men’s Outreach for Rape Education” that spoke yesterday in the Student Center.

Credit: Andrew popik

Four men, each wearing a navy T-shirt with “One in Four” printed on the front, discussed sexual assault and rape issues yesterday afternoon in the Student Center.

The T-shirt statistic, which refers to a nation-wide study indicating that one in four college women reports surviving rape or attempted rape since her 14th birthday, is also the name of the all-male group of peer educators appearing at colleges across the country.

John Mallory, Matt Roosevelt, Nick Reiter and Will Carter, recent graduates of the College of William and Mary in Virginia, are part of the RV tour that presented “The Men’s Program,” which focuses on helping men understand the trauma associated with rape.

The program was put together by NO MORE, The National Organization of Men’s Outreach for Rape Education. It was sponsored by The Women’s Resource Center at Kent State as well as Intercollegiate Athletics.

“This (Kent State) is the 38th college we have visited since we started in September,” Mallory said. “We travel around in a 37-foot motor home.”

According to nomorerape.org, the group’s Web site, “The program deals with increasing men’s empathy toward women by sharing the anguish of the experience and includes a discussion of how men can subsequently make changes in their own behavior to help prevent rape.”

Ann Penn, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said, “This sexual assault prevention program is different than others because it is done by men for men.”

The program started with an explanation of the difference between sexual assault and rape, followed by a police training video about rape.

The video was produced to make the audience understand what it feels like to be raped, Mallory said.

It is a disturbing story that puts the viewer in the shoes of a male cop who is raped by two men in an alley while on the job.

“One made me give him a blow job and the other nailed me in the ass,” the narrator said as he explained what had happened to other characters in the story.

The video then talked the audience through a rape exam at a hospital, which included swabbing the anus and pulling out pubic hair. The audience was forced to realize how uncomfortable this situation is for a rape victim.

The group said it made the audience watch the harsh video because the situation of a man being penetrated by another man unwillingly is the closest parallel to make college men see what it feels like to be raped.

If a man is approached by a friend or girlfriend who is a survivor of rape, NO MORE wants to make sure he knows what to do. The group offers six pieces of advice:

• Make sure her medical and safety needs are taken care of.
• Do not become violent. This may upset her more.
• Talk less, listen more.
• Believe her.
• Help her regain control. Encourage her to make small decisions.
• Realize your limitations. Refer the survivor to a counselor if necessary.

The group also shared ways men can reduce sexual assault and rape in their everyday lives by helping to change social norms. They should not make jokes about rape, such as, “That test just raped me.” Sexist behavior should be challenged, and abuse of women should be condemned. Most importantly, men should educate themselves and support others.

Contact student life reporter Brianne Carlon at [email protected].