Friday, September 21, 2001

Textbooks don’t cover this
TCU Police, theatre department teach about date rape, sexual assault
By James Zwilling
Staff Reporter

Two students. One dorm room. One date rape. And a room full of spectators.

Residents of Colby Hall were among the first students to see Assault Prevention Theatre’s first show of the season Wednesday, “Without Consent.”

Assault Prevention Theatre is a joint educational program between the TCU Police and the theatre department designed to educate students on date rape and sexual assault, TCU Crime Prevention Officer Pam Christian said.

David Dunai - Senior Photographer Colby residents watch a dramatization of a risky situation for date rape Wednesday.

Christian said the program, which began its fourth year Wednesday, offers a type of education most students have not had when it comes to date rape and sexual assault.

“You’re taught all the way through school about sexual assault and you talk about it,” Christian said, “But seeing a play — it’s right there in front of you and you can’t ignore it.”

The program involves a short play with four students, two female and two male, who act out a scenario in which one of the females is raped. The program explores how rape is dealt with by the victim, her roommate, the rapist and his friend.

Following the play, the actors stay in character and field any questions that the audience may have regarding their actions in the play and Christian fields any legal questions.

Freshman biochemistry major Melissa Duncan said she was not expecting the play to be as open, honest and powerful as it was.

“They were so open,” she said. “They didn’t hold anything back. You got so close to the characters I almost thought this was real.”

Christian said it is the open dialogue between the actors and the students that usually yields the most education about the topic.

“A lot of (TCU students) think it can’t happen to them,” she sad. “Many students don’t realize that it’s the normal, everyday guy who is involved in date rapes.”

Christian said one in four college students will be a victim of a sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault and that 78 percent of all women who are sexually assaulted or the victim of an attempted sexual assault know their attackers.

Program Director Jamie Castaneda, a junior theater major, said he decided to direct the program after being a part of last year’s cast and because of his experiences of helping a friend who was raped.

Castaneda said if he hadn’t been involved in the program he wouldn’t have known how to help his friend.

“If this program can help one person, it will be worth it,” he said.

Once they were out of character, the actors explained to the audience the importance of the show.

Junior theater major Molly Mitchell, who played the role of the roommate, said the program is important because rape not only affects the victim and the rapist, but also family, friends and entire campuses.

“Even if it hasn’t happened to you, you’ve probably seen some of (the character who was the rapist) in someone you know,” Mitchell said. “Don’t be ashamed. Go get help.”

The next scheduled Assault Prevention Theatre presentation will be at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Moncrief Hall.

The Assault Prevention Theatre presentation is available to any campus organization at no cost and can be arranged by calling Pam Christian at (817) 257-7930.

James Zwilling
j.g.zwilling@student.tcu.edu