Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997

Acting out life lessons

University Park Ensemble talks about sex

By DANIELLE CHIARA
Collegian Staff Writer

Walking into the HUB Assembly Room yesterday evening, students were greeted with the song "Let's Talk About Sex" and literature about sexual assault at the University Park Ensemble's presentation of "Sex at 7."

Zachary Buchanan (senior-theatre) talks to members of the audience at Sex at Seven. Buchanan is part of the University Park Ensemble that performed an interactive play called "The Morning After" at the HUB last night. (Collegian Photo/Galen A. Lentz - click for full size image)

"The performance was informative, excellent and educational," said Jason Kaufman (junior-science). "Seeing it reinforced made it all the more important on a University standpoint."

The three scene interactive play, "The Morning After," was sponsored by the Center for Women's Students and the Office of Health Promotion and Education. It served to educate students with many street-smart tips on how to party safely and avoid sexual assault. They learned to limit their drinking, not to walk home with a stranger and to enforce the buddy system.

"The experience you've gotten tonight is better then any lecture I could have ever given," said Barry Kur, director of the ensemble.

Scene one focused on Justine and Zach the morning after a rape. In scene two Zach confronted his roommate Bert about his night, and whether he "did the deed" with Kim. Justine enters Kim's room in Scene three, where the two women begin to talk about their nights, and Justine's "uncomfortable experience." The play concluded when Kim calls a crisis center to help Justine.

"This is the most powerful and effective way to put forward sexual assault as well as alcohol and drug affected ways," said Patti Johnstone, assistant director for the Center.

Justine said she told Zach to stop but he did not listen -- and forced himself on her.

Pennsylvania laws would deem Justine's situation as rape, Johnstone said, because Pennsylvania declares rape as forcing someone to have sexual intercourse. If the victim said no and the attacker continued without force, Pennsylvania law would declare the situation a sexual assault.

Zach said he did not believe she wanted him to stop. Alcohol may have impaired Zach's perception, Kur said.

Natalie Croll, assistant director for the Office of Health Promotion and Education, informed the audience about limiting its alcohol intake. Students should never consume more then four drinks, and no more than 1 per hour, she said, adding that if students are on medication they should not drink at all.

University actors portrayed characters with the same names -- Justine Caskey (senior-theater), Zachary Buchanan (senior-theater), Bert Kieres (senior-theater) and Kimberly Colflesh (junior-theater).

"(Rape) can happen at anytime, anywhere, at the least expected moment -- so take care and be safe," Caskey said.