2008 Woodie Awards
Student Development head launches anti-violence campaign
Tricia Carr
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
With the help of students and faculty, Roberta Staples, director of professional student development said she wants to bring more violence prevention programs to campus in the near future.
In Staples' opinion, the elimination of violence at Marist needs to be a slow but effective process. New to her position, she now has a budget to bring programs like "Voices of Men", a one-man violence prevention play written and performed by Ben Atherton-Zeman, to Marist College.
The program, which came to campus on Sept. 25, 2006, was highly attended despite being Staples' first program. The audience consisted of mostly male athletes who were required to go by their coaches.
"I really enjoyed the show," Stephen Peterson, a student athlete, said. "I found it very informative, and it opened my eyes to things I did not know before."
Matt Schunk, a junior lacrosse player said, "I thought it was informative, and it makes me want to do my part to stop sexual assault, especially in the wake of the Duke Lacrosse situation."
Ben Atherton-Zeman said that in his college years he tried coercing women into doing things they weren't comfortable with. Later, when he met women who had been emotionally abused by men like him, he was inspired to travel to schools to prevent this violence from happening.
Staples' said her goal this year is to form a committee of both male and female students that will produce more violence awareness programs. She said she was surprised when she found out that most students who attended "Voices of Men" didn't already know that rape is most commonly committed by a classmate or friend and thus wants to get students more involved.
Following up Ben-Atherton's performance, "Take Back the Night", an international domestic and sexual violence awareness event, will come to Marist Friday, Oct. 27, 2006 at 7 p.m. This night-long gathering will begin with a walk starting at the Rotunda and ending in the Champagnat breezeway. During this time, students will walk sometimes in silence and at other times chanting.
After the walk, there will be a speak-out in the Student Center. Jess McNamara, the chair of this event, described the speak-out as, "an opportunity for people to talk about their experiences with domestic violence and rape or share a story or poem that is relevant to the event." It will continue until every person gets a chance to speak.
McNamara has an upbeat attitude towards "Take Back the Night." "It is a wonderful event and we hope to get as many students and faculty members involved as possible," she said.
In addition to "Take Back the Night," Staples plans to have a domestic violence police officer come to campus this semester. The officer will speak in Leo Hall and Lower West Cedar Street Townhouses.
Staples said she has high hopes for the future. "We need to work together to end the violence, not only on campus, but in the community as well."
In Staples' opinion, the elimination of violence at Marist needs to be a slow but effective process. New to her position, she now has a budget to bring programs like "Voices of Men", a one-man violence prevention play written and performed by Ben Atherton-Zeman, to Marist College.
The program, which came to campus on Sept. 25, 2006, was highly attended despite being Staples' first program. The audience consisted of mostly male athletes who were required to go by their coaches.
"I really enjoyed the show," Stephen Peterson, a student athlete, said. "I found it very informative, and it opened my eyes to things I did not know before."
Matt Schunk, a junior lacrosse player said, "I thought it was informative, and it makes me want to do my part to stop sexual assault, especially in the wake of the Duke Lacrosse situation."
Ben Atherton-Zeman said that in his college years he tried coercing women into doing things they weren't comfortable with. Later, when he met women who had been emotionally abused by men like him, he was inspired to travel to schools to prevent this violence from happening.
Staples' said her goal this year is to form a committee of both male and female students that will produce more violence awareness programs. She said she was surprised when she found out that most students who attended "Voices of Men" didn't already know that rape is most commonly committed by a classmate or friend and thus wants to get students more involved.
Following up Ben-Atherton's performance, "Take Back the Night", an international domestic and sexual violence awareness event, will come to Marist Friday, Oct. 27, 2006 at 7 p.m. This night-long gathering will begin with a walk starting at the Rotunda and ending in the Champagnat breezeway. During this time, students will walk sometimes in silence and at other times chanting.
After the walk, there will be a speak-out in the Student Center. Jess McNamara, the chair of this event, described the speak-out as, "an opportunity for people to talk about their experiences with domestic violence and rape or share a story or poem that is relevant to the event." It will continue until every person gets a chance to speak.
McNamara has an upbeat attitude towards "Take Back the Night." "It is a wonderful event and we hope to get as many students and faculty members involved as possible," she said.
In addition to "Take Back the Night," Staples plans to have a domestic violence police officer come to campus this semester. The officer will speak in Leo Hall and Lower West Cedar Street Townhouses.
Staples said she has high hopes for the future. "We need to work together to end the violence, not only on campus, but in the community as well."
Be the first to comment on this story