BGSU Welcome

The alcohol/sexual assault connection

"It was 2 a.m., we were in her room, and we were both drunk," says one.

"A lot of campus rapes start here," says another, under a large photo of a beer mug.

Posters distributed by the Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CASO) send a strong message: alcohol and sexual assault go hand-in-hand.

During October-Alcohol Awareness Month-the group is intensifying its efforts to educate the campus community about this connection.

Other campus groups have also joined the awareness campaign, either on their own or in conjunction with the Bowling Green Coalition for Drug-Free Schools.

Barbara Waddell, affirmative action, and a member of CASO, estimates that upwards of 95 percent of all sexual assaults among students involve drinking. Most cases involve students who already know one another, and the incidents often occur in students' residences.

Binge drinking, defined as more than five drinks in one episode, is most often implicated in sexual offenses. This kind of unrestrained drinking is particularly prevalent among freshmen, so UNIV 100 classes address this type of behavior and its consequences.

Also, thanks to a grant the University recently received to combat binge drinking, programs will soon be conducted in freshman residence halls and Greek units. Through information and activities, the sessions will seek to change student perceptions of 'normal' drinking and offer alcohol-free alternatives. The grant is coordinated by Terry Rentner, journalism, Sheila Harris, a counselor in the Center for Wellness and Prevention, Christine Hageman, coordinator for the center, and Jessica Bell, graduate student,

"Sexual health and sexual assault are important components of this program," Hageman said. In the age of AIDS, this is especially crucial, she noted.

The athletic department takes many steps to educate its more than 500 student-athletes about the role alcohol and drugs can play in poor decision-making of all kinds, according to CASO member Shelley Appelbaum, associate athletic director. "We want to take the lead and participate in these important activities. We see it as an institutional issue," she said.

Bill Radcliffe, an FBI agent, visited campus Oct. 26 to speak to student groups about decision-making. Attendance was mandatory for all 22 athletic team members, Appelbaum said. Radcliffe's visit was subsidized in part by funds from the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Mid American Conference.

What can individual faculty and staff do to help prevent alcohol-related sexual assault?

All full-time faculty will soon receive a packet of materials from the BGSU Drug-Free Schools Coalition that includes a red ribbon to wear Oct. 27-31 stating "Binge drinking doesn't make the grade," and a pamphlet, "Partners for Prevention: A Guide for Faculty."

Barbara Hoffman, CASO chair, a nurse practitioner in the Student Health Service, and health educator in the Center for Wellness and Prevention, encourages faculty to call her immediately for guidance on advising sexual assault victims who may need medical attention, housing or legal services.

Faculty and staff should be alert for signs of sexual assault or abuse, such as a sudden change in demeanor or withdrawal from class participation, or unexplained absences.

CASO has developed a detailed flow chart describing what to ask when helping a victim of sexual assault. These charts are printed in Campus Issues magazine and are also available from the Center for Wellness and Prevention.

CASO member Don Gehring, higher education and student affairs, said it is imperative that faculty discourage students from bringing or consuming alcohol on off-campus trips. He said faculty should never "assume everything will be fine, even if it always has been before."

Faculty and staff can help recruit male students to become facilitators in the "What Men Need to Know About Rape" program. Coordinated by Hoffman and Craig Vickio, CASO vice chair and a clinical psychologist in the counseling center, this program provides a forum for student groups to discuss issues such as the role alcohol plays in sexual assault, the progression of sexually exploitative behaviors and appropriate social and sexual interactions that do not involve aggression.

Hoffman and Vickio give presentations on these issues. They encourage faculty and staff to contact them for more information.