The Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils hosted a
presentation on sexual violence Wednesday evening ““
addressing a problem so underreported that many people who
attended could not say for sure whether sexual violence at UCLA is
a problem.
“This is a case that hadn’t really been
addressed,” said Chie Tamashiro, a third-year student and
member of the Panhellenic Council.
Tamashiro said sexual assault is one of the most underreported
crimes, and even if sexual assault is not as prevalent at UCLA as
it may be at some campuses, the program is helpful so that people
don’t put themselves in compromising situations.
Presented by students from UC Irvine, the program, fittingly
labeled Unspeakable Acts, addresses issues surrounding sexual
violence on campus. The presentation focuses much of its dialogue
and message on what it means to consent to sexual acts.
“I think it’s a really important message. Not a lot
of people realize what a huge deal it is,” said Stephanie
Henry, a fourth-year at UC Irvine and an actor with Unspeakable
Acts.
Henry said that one in four women have been sexually assaulted.
“Think of your four closest friends,” she said.
“By the statistics, one of them has probably been
assaulted.”
Hans Han, another actor with Unspeakable Acts, said performing
for him has special importance because people close to him have
been sexually assaulted.
Hans said that sexual assault is a widespread issue and
encompasses a lot more than people realize. Most people don’t
understand how sexual assault and alcohol are related, Han
said.
Last year, Unspeakable Acts performed at Royce Hall to a small
audience of only 250, Tamashiro said. This year, the
Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils are hoping for a combined
showing of 1600 people over the course of their four
performances.
Wednesday night, hundreds of students attended the presentation
““Â partially because of publicity that included e-mails
to the presidents of the chapters and row walks that organizers
went on to remind people of the event.
Gyron Makasiar, president of Alpha Tau Omega, said sexual
violence is definitely an issue on campus ““ he has had more
than one friend who has been raped.
Makasiar also said most of his fraternity was present partially
because it was a requirement but also because his fraternity cannot
afford the fine that would be imposed if 80 percent of his
chapter’s members do not attend one of the sessions.
Event organizers and participants are also using the
presentation to spur further discussion about sexual violence.
Katie Gibbs, one of the event’s organizers, said workers
at the UCLA Center for Women and Men will go to different chapters
sometime in February for discussions based on the presentation.
In addition, Tamashiro said the councils will use the the event
to gather names of individuals interested in working on other peer
education programs.
Unspeakable Acts performs again Jan. 26 at 6:30 and 8:30 pm
in the De Neve auditorium.