'Sex Signals' show prompts awareness of sexual violence

By Rachel Schwartz and Allison Sundaram

Freshmen were required to attend a "sort-of" improv sexual assault awareness show called "Sex Signals," this week as part of an Office of Student Life push to educate students about sexual assault and violence against women.

Four 75 minute shows in Mayer Theatre were put on Monday and Tuesday nights for freshmen, and a Tuesday night show at 10 p.m. was open to upperclassmen. The partially scripted shows involve the audience, asking them for suggestions such as pick-up lines. The show covered flirting, gender stereotypes and hooking up in the beginning while it got into heavier topics, such as date rape, at the end.

Approximately 120 upperclassmen attended the free Tuesday show, according to the Office of Student Life.

"I think it was a good thing to require," freshman Ryan Woodward said. "Even if it wasn't required, I wouldn't have gone."

The show featured double-entendres and charged interchanges. "Oh come on, throw me a bone," the male actor said.

"I didn't realize you had lost yours," an actress said while looking at his pants.

Personal safety was a large part of Associated Students Vice President Julia Niles' campaign platform. Niles said that there was a great need to educate students about sexual assault.

"We're just looking for new ways to bring about awareness, and start the dialogue, start the conversation, about the impact of sexual assault and personal responsibility for your actions," Niles said.

The total cost of the shows is approximately $11,000, said Lisa Millora, assistant dean for student life. One-tenth of the show is paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Violence Against Women, awarded to the Office of Student Life in 2005.

The rest of cost is being paid for by various campus organizations and departments, including Associated Students, Campus Ministry, Athletics and Residential Learning Communities.

Freshmen were informed about required attendance at the presentation during their orientations and through e-mails sent out through their RLCs over the past few weeks, Millora said.

"It's not like kids don't have other things to be doing, like homework, papers and stuff," freshman Andrew Thomas said. "If I didn't have anything else in the world to do, I'd come see it. But I do."

Millora said freshmen who were not able to make the shows were able to reschedule their times or make alternative arrangements with Office of Student Life. Millora said students who decided not to attend would penalized.

"We've invested a certain amount of money to get them here," Millora said. "For students who chose not to work with us, it's a loss."

Millora did not want to disclose what type of penalty students would get for skipping the show because she wanted to focus on the positive impact of the shows. However, she said that it follows previous years' precedent of sanctions imposed for not completing AlcoholEdu, an alcohol-awareness course all incoming freshmen were required to complete online. The penalties for not finishing ranged from a fine to a hold on registration.

Students who did not attend the shows will be required to go to an alternate presentation by One in Four or Every Two Minutes, groups that educate students about sexual assault.

"I think there's a huge misconception on campus that this sort of thing doesn't happen," Megan Stinar, a sophomore peer educator with Every Two Minutes said.

While some freshmen complained, others thought the show was a good experience. "I thought it was great," said freshman Corey McGuire. "There are a lot of students that probably needed to be there the most that wouldn't have gone if it wasn't required."

Contact Rachel Schwartz and Allison Sundaram at (408) 554-4546.