Program designed to combat sexual assault

  Monday, April 11, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Self-described artist, advocate and anti-violence educator Tyler Osterhaus will present a program, “ Sex, Culture and Consent,” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom of the Overman Student Center on the Pittsburg State University campus. The program is open to the public, as well as to Pitt State students.

The program, which is part of the university’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, is sponsored by Gorillas In Your Midst, Greek Life, and Students for Violence Prevention (SVP).

According to Osterhaus, incidents of sexual assault do not occur in a vacuum but rather within the context of "rape culture,” which he describes as a pervasive system of beliefs that spans the social ecology from the individual to the institutional level.

Organizers say the presentation will give participants the skills to examine societal level influences that are permissive of sexual violence like pop culture and public policy and challenge them to think critically about their own personal belief system about sex, gender, and relationships from an intersectional perspective.

For more information, contact Ali Smith, coordinator of violence prevention and victim advocacy, 620-235-4831, alisonclark@gus.pittstate.edu; or J.T. Knoll, coordinator of prevention and wellness, 620-235-4062, jknoll@pittstate.edu.