STUDENTS LEARN DRAMATIC LESSONS ABOUT DATE RAPE

The play was humorous in parts but its message was deadly
serious.

As part of Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month, Glenforest
Secondary School students yesterday provided the audience for some
thought-provoking skits by the HOPE Theatre Troupe from Barrie.

The performance specifically highlighted the issue of alcohol and
drug-induced sexual assaults.

It comes on the heels of several arrests of Mississauga men for
possession of Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB), commonly known as the rape
drug.

"You're among the highest group of victims of this drug," HOPE
director Ann Martin told the audience of 500 Grades 9-10 students
during a Q&A session following the play.

"The consequences are not only sexual assault...sometimes (use of the
drug) can result in death, especially if it is mixed with alcohol."

According to Sapria Karmakar of the Peel Committee on Sexual Assault,
sexual assault is on the rise in this area. And, though rape drugs get
most of the press, "alcohol is seven times more likely to be involved."

"Whatever it is," she told the teens, "if you're a victim, it's never
your fault. It's the fault of the person who drugged and raped you."

And that person, statistics show, is likely to be a friend, someone
you just met, a boss, a teacher, or even a family member. A staggering
57 per cent of rapes happen during dates, often in private homes.

Martin noted victims who were drugged often feel confused, scared and
blame themselves for what happened. Only one per cent of date rapes
are reported.

But, she cautioned, "You mustn't take the responsibility away from the
offender. Both men and women make excuses for sexual assault to
justify why it happened. Remember, if you're drunk you cannot give
consent.

"The fact is," she added, "rape is not a joke. Unfortunately, it
happens to a lot of people who are scared to say something about it.

"If it happens to you, call the police, a crisis line, speak to
someone you trust," she said.

The event was organized by Grade 12 student Julie Datta.

"I was an intern at the Rape Crisis Centre and I wanted to raise
awareness about the problem," she said.