Rain may have interrupted Sigma Chi’s second annual Hoosiers Against Sexual Assault event Wednesday evening, but it didn’t discourage members from participating. Instead they moved inside the house to hear speeches about sexual assault prevention and bystander intervention techniques.
Cullen Hoene, a junior and member of Sigma Chi fraternity, started the event when he realized sexual assault was prevalent on campus and wanted to do something about it.
“I saw people doing great events for things like cancer research but didn’t really see anything that was affecting our campus right here and right now,” Hoene said.
Hoene said he hopes the event will positively effect Sigma Chi and the greek community by raising awareness and making discussions about sexual assault less taboo.
“We want members to be able to have constructive discussions about it with their friends and families,” Hoene said.
Speaking at the event was Leslie Fasone, assistant dean of students of women’s and gender affairs, who emphasized the importance of not accepting nonverbal communication as consent, especially in situations where two people don’t know each other well. Stalking and sexual exploitation, like sharing of explicit text messages, are other issues Fasone said are present on college campuses.
“What we really need to do is educate students on what they can do to step up and intervene in certain situations,” Fasone said.
Fasone also encouraged Sigma Chi members to show support to friends who come to them about sexual assault experiences.
“Believe them,” Fasone said. “Listen. Show them that you care and support them,”
Emily Milner, a donor relations manager at Middle Way House, spoke at the event to inform attendees about Middle Way House’s different services, including the men’s engagement program which encourages more men to volunteer.
Milner said greek organizations have been good about responding to her requests for communication about sexual assault, but they should try to be more proactive about preventing it rather than only discussing it after the fact.
“I think there have been some good steps forward, but we still have a lot left to go,” Milner said.
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller spoke to inform attendees about the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault. He said the coalition is determined to treat victims with dignity and respect.
Zoeller commended Sigma Chi for having discussions about sexual assault issues and said the audiences he speaks to about sexual assault are usually made up of women.
“In order to have a discussion about sexual assault we should be talking to men, too,” Zoeller said.
Josh Leitman, co-director of Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault, encouraged fraternity men to watch out for other people and be aware of their surroundings at social events.
Leitman used coercion as an example of a sexual assault issue that can happen at parties and other social events, and he said members should intervene in situations where they think someone is being pressured into doing something.
“The culture is to leave it alone and not go against the grain, but it’s important to go against the grain,” Leitman said.
