University News

Sexual Assault Prevention Author to Speak On Campus April 1-3

March 28, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Todd Denny, author of the book "Unexpected Allies: Men Who Stop Rape," will be on the WIU-Macomb campus for a three-day speaking engagement Tuesday-Thursday, April 1-3, culminating in the keynote address for Take Back the Campus (TBTC) at approximately 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 on Vince Grady Field. He also will sign copies of his book.

Denny, whose book was published in 2007, has conducted more than 1,000 sexual assault and domestic violence education workshops in universities, public schools and a variety of other community settings including at the International Conference on Campus Sexual Assaults. He has appeared on "Entertainment Tonight" and was featured in the award-winning PBS television documentary "Date Rape: A Different Set of Rules." Denny will detail why male leadership is key to reducing campus violence.

Denny's music violence prevention program, which incorporates popular music into the discussion, has been supported by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, among others. His workshops utilize music, experiential exercises and group discussions to teach skills to prevent violence through practical prevention and intervention strategies. Program participants examine their own beliefs and behaviors about gender roles, masculinity, stalking and sexual assault.

Denny received his Master's of Social Work degree in school and mental health curriculums from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he founded the campus organization Men Against Rape. As a UIUC staff member, he designed and facilitated curriculum for rape prevention programs. Denny also worked at a Women's Place Shelter in Urbana (IL) and at Safeplace Rape/Relief Women's Shelter in Olympia, (WA), where he co-founded Men's Abuse Support Services (M.A.S.S.). He also has pioneered men's violence prevention programs at The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA); and at Eastern Washington University, (Cheney, WA).

Denny's visit is sponsored by the WIU Women's Center and is made possible in part by funds raised through the V-Day College Campaign for sexual and domestic violence prevention programs and resources.

According to Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia, college student personnel (CSP) graduate student Scott Kohen of Buffalo Grove (IL), founded Take Back the Campus at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), where he was a student in 2007. Kohen spearheaded the planning committee for Western's event. Committee members, all of whom are graduate students in Kohen's CSP cohort, are: Robin Banks (Terre Haute, IN), Rebecca Groves, (Lodi, WI), Jessica Gunzburger of Macomb; Dan Hernandez of Macomb; John Kryst (Minneapolis, MN) and Jen Weig (Madison, WI).

"As an undergraduate student at UNLV, Scott met Todd and was trained as a peer educator through his Men's Violence Prevention peer education program," Cavicchia said. "When Scott arrived on our campus last fall, he contacted me about sponsoring TBTC and bringing Todd to WIU. I chair the Relationship Violence Awareness and Prevention Committee (RVAPC), so we took the idea to the group and received enthusiastic support."

Members of the RVAPC include representatives of Beu Health Center, Greek Life Programs, Office of Public Safety, Student Development and Orientation, Student Judicial Programs, the University Counseling Center, University Housing and Dining Services, the Women's Center, faculty members from sociology and psychology, the Western Illinois Regional Council Victim Services Program, Macomb Police Department and McDonough District Hospital.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to have Todd share his motivational message and inspire our students to be leaders in violence prevention through his interactive, humorous and informative workshops," Cavicchia said. "The Women's Center has a men's outreach program, and we hope Todd's visit will generate interest among students in developing a men's violence prevention student organization."

In addition to the book signing and keynote speech, Denny will present four workshops:

-3:30-4:45 p.m., Tuesday, April 1, University Union Chicago Room —Music Violence Prevention (MVP) Workshop focusing on increasing student involvement in sustained campus violence prevention programs;

-12-1:15 p.m., Wednesday April 2, University Union Sandburg Lounge—Men's Violence Prevention Workshop discussing how homophobia and pornography contribute to male violence and sexual assault; how alcohol use and sexual assault are connected; practical skills to challenge and stop stalking and sexual assault and how coercion and manipulation contribute to rape;

-5:30-6:45 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, Morgan 109—Sexual Aggression 101 Presentation for Men and Women, a candid and respectful discussion on dating, communication, relationships and sexual assault;

-12-1:15 p.m., Thursday April 3, Western Hall, Hall of Fame Room—
Violence Prevention Workshop for Athletes, focusing on how athletes are in a unique position to take leadership roles in reducing campus violence; and creative ways to prevent violence against women on campus.

For more information, contact Kohen at SM-Kohen@wiu.edu or the Women's Center at 309/298-2242, or visit www.todddennymvp.com.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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