Cosmo Girl
Issue: Dec 2005/Jan 2006

2005 Born to Lead Awards

The Educators
One in Four RV Guys
Home base: Williamsburg, VA

If you see this RV drive through your town, give a shout-out! These four guys are educating guys like them about how to prevent rape and how to help a woman in their lives who's been sexually assaulted or raped. They're the founding members of College of William and Mary's One-in-Four, a peer rape awareness group named after a scary statistic from a study that indicates one in four college women have survived attempted rape or rape after the age of 14. This year Nick, Matt, Will, and John toured the U.S. to bring the program to other colleges.

Nick: "One day during my junior year, a good friend called me because her roommate had just been date-raped-by a guy I knew! I tried to do what I thought her roommate would want-I offered to get all my fraternity brothers to go kick his ass!-but she got even more upset. I realized I had no idea how to help her in that situation. Soon after I got an offer to help start the One-in-Four chapter, and I took it."

Matt: "Most rape awareness programs tend to accuse men and make them feel bad rather than get them interested in preventing rape. Our program teaches guys what it feels like to be a victim and how they can support survivors of rape."

Will: "One time we spoke to a football team. At the end it was silent, so we thought we hadn't gotten through to them. Later, we ran into one of the players and he said they all talked about what they'd learned. It amazed me that we'd triggered these big athletes to sit around discussing rape prevention."

John: "We hope the tour just continues to expand and grow. The ultimate goal is to bring this important message to as many guys as possible, until there's no longer a need for it."







       
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