HPER event encourages "Street Smarts"

After a night partying, Tom and Amanda were engaged in a heated he-said, she-said.

“I took his hand and pushed it away. ... I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I just didn’t want to go any further,” Amanda said.

“She didn’t say anything, so I guess she was feeling pretty good,” Tom said.

Tom and Amanda are two characters created by Raising Awareness of Interactions in Sexual Encounters.

Although Tom, played by junior R.A.I.S.E. member Grant Churchill, and Amanda, played by senior co-president Sarah McDermont, aren’t real, the scene was a vehicle for teaching students about the real problem of sexual assault.

R.A.I.S.E. joined the IU Police Department and IU Health Center to present “Street Smarts” Thursday night in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation auditorium. The event, part of IU’s Health and Wellness Week, aimed to encourage students to have a plan for personal safety.

The event was conceived by Barbara Moss, a health educator at IU Health Center. Originally from Queens, N.Y., she said she has always been aware of the need for personal safety.

“I realized more recently, especially with several of the things that have been going on ... in issues of personal safety, it’s something that is very important, and it’s one of those things we’re not really taught,” Moss said.

R.A.I.S.E. was joined by guest speaker Nick Luce, a former IU football player who now works as an IUPD officer. Luce stressed the importance of practicing common sense and heeding the advice of parents.

Julia Arany, a counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services, spoke about the role alcohol plays in student safety.

“I thought the turnout was excellent. I was impressed with the level of student participation,” Arany said. “I think that it’s really getting people to think about their own lives and make active decisions.”

Students in attendance worked with the guest speakers to brainstorm tips for promoting personal safety. Students offered practical suggestions for staying safe at parties or simply walking home from evening classes.

“We need to look at physical safety and get some of those tips ... but we don’t want it to be a scary thing or a blame thing,” Moss said. “Stuff happens. Life happens. You can’t control everything, but you can do what you can do to try to mitigate your risk.”