Sexual assault education offered by campus police
The Rape Aggression Defense class, the Assault Prevention Theatre, the Victims Advocate Program and the 1 N 4 Men’s Program are just some of the resources offered at TCU to make students, faculty and staff aware of precautions they can take to prevent a sexual assault.
By Jill Meninger
Staff Reporter

Programs like the Rape Aggression Defense, Assault Prevention Theatre, Victims Advocate Program and the 1 N 4 Men’s Program are a collaborative effort between the departments, students, faculty and staff to educate the university about sexual assault prevention, treatment and intervention.

Many of these programs were already in place before the off-campus sexual assaults this semester and last. They inform participants of ways to prevent some sexual assaults or what to do if one has already occurred, said Glory Robinson, the assistant dean of Campus Life.

Pamela Christian, the TCU crime prevention officer, said 78 percent of all sexual assaults are by an acquaintance.

Christian said the best way women can protect themselves is to take Rape Aggression Defense, a free self-defense class offered by campus police intended to teach women how to make educated decisions about resistance.

“To be able to best protect yourself during a violent assault, training in a self-defense course would be most advisable,” Christian said.

She said the free class is open to all female faculty, staff and students.

TCU Police also sponsors the Assault Prevention Theatre, which is directed and performed by students. The performance is about a drunk woman who is sexually assaulted after she takes her date back to her residence hall room.

After the performance, the actors stay in character so audience members can ask them questions.

Christian said there are not any set schedules for the APT yet, but possible locations include Jarvis Hall, the Child Advocacy Center and All Saints High School.

The Victims Advocate Program, sponsored by Campus Life, can refer a sexual assault victim to various resources including Crisis Intervention, Women’s Haven and John Peter Smith Hospital, Robinson said.

Robinson said the victim is given the option to work with an advocate from Student Affairs, whose goal is to support the victim by giving them medical information and counseling options. If necessary, the advocate will attend court with the victim.

“Studies show the sooner the victim receives counseling, the sooner they are able to deal with the issue,” Robinson said.

Robinson said a new program directed toward men called the 1 N 4 Men’s Program started this year. She said two men from Campus Life speak to students in small groups about how to help a sexual assault survivor.

Robinson said the 1 N 4 Men’s Program features a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation and a video depicting a sexual assault. She said she wants the participants to learn to help a sexual assault survivor, lower their beliefs about sexual assault myths and decrease the likelihood of participating in a sexual assault themselves.

Fort Worth Police Officer Jamie Johnson said women should not go out alone and should travel with at least one friend.

He said they should never leave their drinks unattended when they go out, and they should not take drinks from strangers.

Johnson said the Fort Worth Police Department does not actively instruct any self-defense type courses, but tries to focus on prevention by educating the public through several methods, including free brochures.

“It is best to take precautions to avoid situations like these,” Johnson said.