RHA lets students evaluate 'Sex Signals' through improv comedy performance

Sexual assault and rape are serious issues on a college campus, but Fawzia Mirza and Christian Murphy worked to get both out in the open through improvisational comedy skits that promoted conversation about the sensitive issues. \nDuo Mirza and Murphy of Catharsis Productions, based in Chicago, presented "Sex Signals" Thursday night at McNutt Quad, sponsored by the Residence Halls Association. The comedy group travels around the country educating college students about sexual assault and rape in an engaging and interactive way. \nThe fourth annual program aims to educate in a way students find amusing, said Meg Palm, vice president of programming for RHA. Understanding the idea of consent was the main theme of the program, she said. \n"If you're going to be a sexual initiator, you need to be responsible in knowing the other person's into it," said Murphy, co-creator and actor in the performance. \nA lot of sex signals are misinterpreted, Murphy said, which can make someone think what was really date rape was a date gone bad. Students are easily misguided by what they thought were the facts. \nMore often than not, students are impacted by sexual assault situations, whether it be through a friend or themselves, RHA advisor Sarah Nagy said. \n"I think college students continue to struggle with creating balance when choosing to use alcohol and letting it go too far and knowing the consequences," Nagy said. "In reality, bad things happen to good people." \nMurphy and Mirza jumped into a mix of common scenarios students experience on a college campus, like meeting someone at a bar or a party. \nThe duo acted out scenes from environments where alcohol was present, turning to the audience to determine when a situation became uncomfortable by having them hold up stop signs. \nAn off-campus party scene showed Murphy meeting Mirza at a party where Murphy encouraged Mirza to drink while being very touchy. Many audience members raised their hands when asked if they had seen something like this at a party before. \nThe couple addressed male and female stereotypes in a playful and fun manner, using humorous contributions from the audience for pickup lines in their improvisational scenes.\nThe pair asked for common false impressions about what each expected in their counterparts. At one point, Mirza said men sometimes acted like deer hunters stalking their prey and immediately jumped on top of the chairs yelling "Rawr!" \nThe low-key, interactive atmosphere made it easier for issues that are often ignored to be discussed, IU graduate Alia Shah said.\n"I don't think people talk about it enough," she said. \nPalm said she was disappointed with attendance because fewer than 10 people came. She was expecting about 100 since last year's two performances drew 50 people total.\nBut those who did attend the show didn't leave empty handed. Condoms and sex toys, including erotic silicone rings, were given in gift bags at the conclusion of the event. \n"The idea of this program isn't abstinence," Palm said. "It's about being responsible"