Frat event helps image

Chi Phi Fraternity sponsored a panel discussion educating students about sexual assaults and ways that they can protect themselves and others. Drawing a crowd of about 200 people, the panel featured a licensed psychologist as the keynote speaker who spoke about the resources available to students in the event of an assault and the emotional affects of sexual assault. The event included representatives from the Boston University Wellness Center, Police Department, and Office of Judicial Affairs who discussed how to report rape incidents and the legal definition of rape and consent. New fraternity and sorority members were required to attend the event.

The fraternity did a great service to the BU population by organizing the discussion. The well-organized event included knowledgeable panelists who could address the issue intelligently and could help students to understand the issue from the point of view of people who work with victims and offenders.

Such panel discussions encourage people address the issue and learn not to tolerate sexual assaults. While the audience was comprised mostly fraternity and sorority members, the huge turnout is one indication of its success. Equipped with the knowledge, these students can inform others about the importance of recognizing and reporting instances of sexual assault.

Far too often, students choose to ignore any mention of sexual misconduct at their jobs, in their classrooms and in their social interactions. It is time that everyone understand that sexual assault in any form cannot be tolerated.

In addition, the organization’s effort helps to challenge the stereotype that fraternities condone sexual assault among its members. It is equally impressive that new sorority and fraternity members were required to attend the discussion because it sends them the message that preventing sexual assault is an important issue. This discussion will hopefully be just one of other similar Greek events addressing sexual assault.