What Is Red Zone?

By: Courtnie Packer in The Utah Statesman, Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Features

Statistics have shown that one in four college women have experienced rape or attempted rape, according to USU's Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Web site. The site's statistics also show that one in three women in Utah will experience some form of sexual violence in the course of their lives, and even one in every 33 men has experienced sexual violence of some type.

 

Sexual violence can affect anyone, anywhere, and that makes Red Zone so crucial and worthwhile to become involved with.

 

Red Zone is the time period between August and the end of November when students are at the most risk for experiencing sexual violence, according to the Web site.

 

Coordinator Rachel Brighton, of SAAVI, said, "Red Zone is held to raise awareness of sexual violence in both the community and on campus."

 

Lt. Shane Sessions, from USU's police department, said, "Red Zone is typically the most dangerous time for female students on campus. It is usually from the first day of school till the first major fall break."

 

Studies show that rape is the most common violent crime on American college campuses today, according to the SAAVI site. For every 1,000 women on a college campus, it says there are up to 35 rapes per academic year, with the targeted group most often as incoming female freshmen.

 

To make students more aware of this issue, SAAVI will be hosting its annual Red Zone Day on Sept. 24, Brighton said.

 

Sessions said, "It is where we show students the resources on both campus and in the community and try to get students involved with preventing violence. The main idea behind Red Zone is to provide information and to educate students on A, how to prevent the problem, and B, to teach students what to do to protect themselves in those types of situations."

 

Brighton said Red Zone Day will not only be geared toward fun, but will also be a wonderful educational opportunity for students.

 

"Red Zone Day will be a fair-style event where tables of all different resources in both the campus and community will be presented," Brighton said. "We will have booths set up to learn more about sexual violence and also to learn more about groups students can join to spread the issue of prevention. We will have give-away contests, free food and entry boxes to win many prizes from a variety of gift cards to places like Wal-Mart and Café Sabor."

 

Brighton said SAAVI has also teamed up with Comcast and the Oxygen Network for help in sponsoring a self-defense class.

 

Sessions said, "Two police instructors will be teaching a couple of self-defense classes during the day on Monday. These classes will give ladies the opportunity to learn about self defense and techniques to protect themselves."

 

Also, the group for men, One-in-Four, will be making a presentation for men on prevention of sexual violence against women.

 

Brighton said, "Red Zone is designed for both men and women. There is something for everyone."