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SAPAC hosts prevention month

Activist Evelyn White will speak tonight at 7 p.m. in Rackham Amphitheater to kick off the eighth annual Rape Prevention Month.

White is a visiting scholar in women's studies at Mills College in California. She will speak on violence against women.

This month, the University's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center will host several workshops, a candlelight vigil and a Take Back the Night rally to heighten awareness on rape.

Prevention and education coordinator Joyce Wright said SAPAC focuses more on survivors than perpetrators of sexual assault.

"If we do come in contact with a perpetrator, we focus on education, that they need to hear their partner," Wright said.

Although SAPAC attempts to fight sexual assault on campus, Wright said she has seen a slight increase in rape cases.

"Because most crimes are increasing, I see a shift in increase in rape," Wright said.

The rise could be attributed to the increase in reporting of crimes -- programs like Rape Prevention Month help victims to come forward and report crimes, Wright said.

In 1994-95 SAPAC offered services to 486 individuals reporting either domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment or sexual assault.

Volunteers say they help out in an effort to make a change in the University community.

"I'm doing it because I need to give something back to the community, to make social change," said LSA sophomore James Smith.

Rape Prevention Month is one way to enlighten University students who might not be aware of sexual assault, he said.

"For me sexual assault and sexual violence is everybody's problem," Smith said. "It's stupid that men don't realize that."

Exposing some of the hidden forces of sexual discrimination, SAPAC sponsors a contest called "Sexism in Advertising," where students cast ballots choosing the most degrading or dangerous advertisement.

The outcome of the vote is announced at a candlelight vigil, held in the Diag.

"I remember last year's candlelight vigil," Smith said. "It was really windy ... and I thought that symbolized how the people were feeling."