Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Researcher Discussc ~ By HERB JACOBS Special To Th? G?rrwcotV Most rape researchers advise women to avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys, jogging in parks alone at night and leaving doors and windows unlocked. That advice comes from researchers who study convicted rapists and the few women who report rapes. Their advice may be appropiate for elderly ladies, but how good is it for college women? * * /i o t\i tn ??t nmnn Knvin n i?/?U /iVianAA /\f K/\inrf v/u t~aiAi|jua wuiucii imvc a 111uv.11 ^icaici Liiauv.c ui ^1115 raped by someone she knows than by a total stranger," said Dr. Mary Koss, the country's leading researcher on sexual aggression and rape among college students. Koss, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Kent State University, spoke Wednesday evening at Williams-Brice Nursing auditorium on the findings of her extensive, unique research on the frequency and causes of sexual aggression and sexual victimization among college students. Koss conducted a survey 0? 4,000 male and female students at Kent State and found that 13 percent, or about one out of pioht wnmpn had hppn l anpH V"D""V " "Perhaps you think these experiences were not really rape, that the average incident involved verbal coercion or mild aggression," she said. "Well, the victims reported a mean ? an average ? of about seven for male violence on a nine-point scale. This mean is equivalent to 'a great deal' of violence and included hitting, slapping, beating, choking, holding down, throwing against walls and so on." Koss added, "Or you might think that a lot of these experiences were developmental or high school phenomena. Actually, 60 percent of the men and women were more than 19 (years old) at the time of the incident." THERE'S STILL TIME TO PREPARE. tmmJ/Ef Call Days Evenings & Weekends IP KaPoaiti C" "' " Mucatlonat Center 223 I DEVINE STREET test preparation COLUMBIA, S.C. 29205 specialists since 1938 phone (803) 256-0673 For Information About Other Centers In More Than 85 US Cities & Abroad Outside NY State CALL TOLL FREE: 800-223-17*2 j bKIK 11 UAL KtlNtWAL EASTER FESTIVAL AT THE BAPTIST STUDENT CENTER j 700 Pickens Street I April 5th Film "Kathy" 7:15p.m. Hope for Easter I April 6th "Model Seder" 6:30 p.m. A Passover Experience | April 7th "Touch of Faith" Gospel Choir 7:00 p.m. Our Hope Through Music April 8th "Commitment Service" ! 7:00 p.m. Led by Wilson Nelson Pastor of Spring Valley Baptist Church EVERYONE INVITED For more information call 799-3854 id Causes of Sexual Agg She defined rape as oral, anal or vaginal intercourse occurring through the use of force or threat of force against the woman's consent. This definition fits the legal definition of rape. Vinlncp oVin fnimrl f V* o f Anltr o fmit liFAmnn ronnrt intitoo, out ivunu mat v/uijr a itvr vv uniV/ii 1 v-pvi ivvj the rape to police and even less to rape crisis centers. This explains why research that focuses on convicted rapists or victims who report rapes might yield results that may be misleading. The rape cases she studied are termed "hidden rape' cases, because they are hidden from rape researchers. "I am not discussing the findings of other studies because, for al practical purposes, I am the only person who has studied th< hidden victim and aggressor," she said. In an attempt to better understand the victim and th< aggressor, Koss prepared a two-hour long set oi psychological tests and personal interview questions. Thes< tests were administered on an individual basis to 400 male and female students who were selected to be representative of a wide range of sexual experiences and behaviors. "Highly sexually aggressive men appear to be a devian subgroup of men. They were found to harbor far mori feelings of hostility than other men, to be more angry am generally more aggressive in behavior. These men viewet sexual aggression as normal and saw heterosexua relationships as games," Koss said. "Most men are not sexually aggressive," Koss said. "Th< facts are that sexual aggression is not universal. In some societies rape never occurs; they might not even have a wor( for rape or sexual aggression, nor nave any iaea wnai in? word means. On the other hand, the United States has one o the highest rates of sexual aggression and rape in the world.' 44 Unlike with men, we found no subgroup of women wh< Did 15 About The' Who Go Pbi jr*O" y . p It happened on a Monday at Swiss Che on Knox Abbott Drive. The USC stu dent got a mug of beer for 250. And ^ t t I then he got another, two oeers ior a grand total of 50# with the purchase lunch or dinner. That's a bargain. Our meals are bargains, too. For ex pie, you can get a quarter chicken dinr with tangy Chalet sauce, a hot roll ai fresh cut French fries or baked potato cSMfe Chicken & Rit ression, Victimization tended to get raped," she said. "The results give no credence to the view that a victim has knowingly or unknowingly contributed to her victimization by her personality characteristics, seductive behavior or by possession of an extreme version of the feminine sex role.'' * Koss said that practically all the women who had been forced into having sex knew their partners. "These were men they had met in class, had gone out with or had met at parties," she said. "Quite a few were even romantically involved." This kind of relationship between the victim and the aggrtessor gives the experience the name "acquaintance rape to ditterentiate it trom stranger rape. Nevertheless, Koss found that both men and women were reluctant to view sexual aggression as rape when it occurs in the context of a relationship even though the legal criteria for rape are met. The incidence of rape among college women could be reduced, if women would "re-focus much of their fear of rape" from the stranger to the acquaintance, Koss said. "The frequency of acquaintance rape and lesser degrees of victimization needs to be publicized. Many women who happened to be victimized ? that's what it is, pure chance happening ? need to know that they are not alone, that the problem is widespread." "Also, women need to know there is a lack of evidence supporting the theories which put some blame on the victim, as opposed to the strong scientific support for theories that puts the blame on the offender. Such knowledge could reduce the stigma and guilt that women who have already been victimized often feel and increases the likelihood that recently victimized women would be able to accurately label their experience." >u Hear [JSC Student t Mugged 25c? let only $2.95. And that's not ordinary chicken either. It's slowly turned and roasted over hardwood charcoal in the unique Swiss method for flavor and juiciness, of Or try the delicious charbroiled ribs, served with a barbecue sauce, im- So come see us. Any day of the week L?r for a different and very affordable meal, d But if you want to get mugged for a or quarter, come on a Monday. (^wtM^ iV ^/S40 Knox Abbott Drive.