Regardless of what she wears or how many beers she has, a woman does not want to be raped. But many people -- men and women -- still believe they sometimes ask for it.

Both men and women harbor rape myths, said Melissa Hardoby, Womyn's Concerns adviser said at a sexual assault awareness program Thursday night. It is these false assumptions that lead to "rape attitudes," she added.

One of the major rape myths involves clothing. Many people think a woman who was wearing any kind of revealing clothing when she was raped asked for it -- but that is not true, Hardoby said.

"It doesn't matter -- no one deserves to be raped," said one female student at the program, who did not identify herself. "If she says no, that's it. I don't know anyone who would ask for it."

But others said they would not wear revealing clothing just to take extra precautions.

"We think we can wear whatever we want to wear but we really can't because there are guys who would take it the wrong way," said Jennifer Wright (freshman-business). "I'm not going to go to a fraternity in a short skirt and a body suit."

Another myth students commonly hold is that men cannot help themselves once they become sexually aroused, Hardoby said.

"Society uses that to excuse rape by saying that she got him started," she said.

And women are often made to feel guilty if they do not go along with a man's wishes, said Kristen Eisenbraun, Undergraduate Student Government coordinator for Women's Issues.

"We are socialized to think more about what he thinks than what we feel," Eisenbraun said.

Alcohol use also contributes to rape, Hardoby said, adding that 75 percent of attackers and 50 percent of victims had been using drugs or alcohol when the assault occurred.

"People -- especially men -- use alcohol as a tool to get people into bed with them," said Catharine Buck, political co-director of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance.

One out of four women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape during her college years, Hardoby said.

Communication is key to preventing sexual assault, said Angela Mikula, former co-director of Womyn's Concerns, adding that she was disappointed that no men attended Thursday's program. Women must tell men when they feel uncomfortable because any man could be a rapist, Mikula said.

"When men look at you or look at a part of you, it's not a compliment -- it turns you into body parts," she said. "Nice ass, he says one day and the next, it's rape."