Film shows realities of rape

One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, according to the latest FBI statistics. The American Medical Association reports that a sexual assault against a woman occurs every 45 seconds. Three forcible rapes were reported to University Police in 1997, according to the CSUS Right-To-Know Report.

Statistics like these have prompted the screening of "A Reason to Believe" at CSUS.

This film, which national film critics have described as the first realistic depiction of college life and the sexual politics surrounding acquaintance rape, will be shown at the University Union Auditorium tomorrow at 11:45 a.m.

Laurie Bisset-Grady, the director of health education at the Student Health Center and manager of the Rape Prevention Education Program, sees an urgent need for students to be aware of the seriousness of acquaintance rape.

"It is a serious problem for the campus community as we are a reflection of the society at large. Violent crime in our society is a major public health issue -- and rape is the most underreported crime in the US," she said.

According to Bisset-Grady, the rate of sexual assault in the U.S. is the highest of any industrialized nation in the world, and she agrees that "A Reason To Believe" is an important educational tool for the campus community, as well as society on a whole.

"Attention needs to be given to rape/sexual assault as a crime of violence that may affect members of the CSUS community," she said. "It is a topic that often has many myths associated with it and hopefully through educational programs myths can be dispelled, information can be presented and people can become informed and hopefully empowered about this societal problem."

The film focuses on a sorority girl, Charlotte (played by Allison Smith of Kate and Allie), who attends a party at her boyfriend's fraternity house while he is out town. After a Saturday night of dancing and excessive drinking, she decides to sleep off her drunken stupor in her boyfriend's room. Jim, one of her boyfriend's fraternity brothers, ignores her pleas to stop his sexual advances and takes advantage of her.

"UNIQUE brought this film to campus because we thought it was an important topic that doesn't get much attention," said Dean Sorensen, UNIQUE programs director. "From the clips I've seen, it looks really good because it not only covers date rape, but also a wide range of subjects such as alcohol abuse, without being preachy."

Sorensen said he hopes the film inspires students to share their feelings about issues facing college students.

"Date rape happens more frequently than most might think and it isn't always taken seriously," said Sorensen. "After the screening, we plan to take a few minutes for people to share their reactions and experiences. Students just don't get enough opportunities to share and this film is important in giving them the starting point to opening up."

Bisset-Grady also said the film is important for promoting discourse among students.

"The topic of rape or sexual assaults in general raises a lot of issues for people," she said. "Sexual assault is a topic which is emotionally-laden. Since date rape is a very difficult subject to talk about, it needs to be promoted in a way that makes it not taboo."

John Hamrick of the University Police Department said he thought the film was a helpful tool in educating students on this vastly-underreported crime.

"The film is a great idea," said Hamrick. "It needs to be reinforced to students that this is a crime where all cases eventually go to the Sacramento District Attorney's Office. People need to understand, no means no!"

Hamrick said most campus acquaintance rapes he has investigated fit a typical scenario students should be aware of in order to protect themselves.

"Most reported date rapes occur in the dorms and almost always involve alcohol or drug use," he said.

According to Bisset-Grady, only about 20 percent of sexual assaults against women are perpetrated by strangers. Friends, acquaintances, intimates and family members commit the remaining 80 percent of rapes.

For more information about rape and sexual assault, call the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) at 1 (800) 656-HOPE, or visit their Web site at www.rainn.org.