The statistics are sobering. Five percent of women in college are raped every year. One in four college women have survived rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. While the numbers should be a wake-up call; the effect on the individual lives can be devastating.
On April 6 Holland Hall will be holding a day of assemblies, workshops, and a presentation to parents and community members aimed to prepare students for dealing with sexual violence on college campuses. The day will be led by Dr. John Foubert, professor of higher education and student affairs at Oklahoma State University and a national expert on sexual violence.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Dr. Foubert’s reputation come to Holland Hall to help prepare our students and parents for issues they will need to be aware of in college,” says Frances Fondren, head of the upper school. “By creating awareness and sharing information we can hopefully protect our students in the next phase of their lives and empower them to enter college feeling more equipped to negotiate the current landscape.
The day of discussions and workshops will culminate in a presentation to parents and interested adults. Entitled “Sexual Violence on College Campuses: What Pre-College Parents Need to Know,” Foubert will address how to protect children from rape now and in the future, the nature of sexual violence, how it tends to occur, and how to help a survivor if it does happen. Discussion points will also touch upon what should be taught to daughters, to sons, and other necessary steps students may take to protect themselves and others. The evening address, to be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Branch Theater of the Walter Arts Center is free and open to the public. Due to the nature of the discussion, it is offered to adults only.
“We are a college preparatory school,” says Fondren. “We strive everyday to get our students ready academically, socially, and morally. I believe it is important to address these issues proactively even though the conversations may make us uncomfortable. This day is just another way we are demonstrating how much we care about our students and their welfare.
Foubert is the author of nine books, including “The Men’s and Women’s Programs: Ending Rape through Peer Education.” He appears in the media frequently on the topic of sexual assault, including being on CNN, C-Span, and NPR, and being featured in The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Time Magazine.
A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Foubert earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He is the national president of One in Four and principal of John D. Foubert, LLC Consulting.
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