Rape may be everyone's problem, but only women attended a sexual assault awareness program -- originally geared toward airing coed misconceptions -- last week.

Although four residence halls Haller, Hibbs, Lyons and Stephens -- were involved in the program last Thursday in Stephens Hall, no male students attended. About 15 female students -- mostly freshmen attended.

"We're stuck," said Kristen Eisenbraun, Undergraduate Student Government coordinator for Women's Issues. "We don't know how to get attendance up without dragging them out of their rooms."

Attendance was down, said Melissa Hardoby, Womyn's Concerns adviser, adding that 65 students -- 12 men -- attended the first program this summer.

But the men who do attend the programs are usually the ones who need it the least, Hardoby said, adding that men often feel intimidated because much of the conversation comes across as male-bashing.

Most of the participants agreed the program would be more effective if men attended.

"I think it was really effective but I wish there had been more guys . . . well, any guys," said Amy Shapiro (freshman-division of undergraduate studies).

Male attendance would make the program more complete and informative, said Kristi Ross (freshman-division of undergraduate studies).

"I think they need more men to come and maybe a male speaker," Ross said.

The program was one in a series to dispel rape myths, to inform students about campus rape counseling facilities and to explain the procedure students should take if they or someone they know are raped, Hardoby said.

The University pays for rape examinations and transportation to Centre Community Hospital and keeps assaults confidential, Eisenbraun added.

"I'm doing these programs because I want women to quit self-blaming," Hardoby said. "If women know what their options are, they may be more likely to go to the police, to get treatment and to break their silence."

More must be done to inform students about the danger of sexual assault, Eisenbraun said, adding that it is important that both men and women know the facts but male students need more encouragement to attend the programs.

Womyn's Concerns is trying to make sexual assault awareness a mandatory part of freshman orientation, Hardoby said, adding that women are more likely to be raped during their first year in college.

"They must be aware before they get here," she said. "We don't want to scare students and parents -- we want to inform."