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P.E.A.C.E. Project spreads awareness

While it is obvious that sexual assault on women is a concern on college campuses, it would surprise many to learn that men are at risk of being sexually assaulted as well. Exposing facts such as these is the mission of the P.E.A.C.E. Project (short for Prevention Education Advocacy Courage Elimination), headed by program director Dr. Sylvia Cedillo. Cedillo conducted seminars for the P.E.A.C.E. Project as part of University College building meetings in the month of January.The P.E.A.C.E. Project’s goal is to promote prevention of sexual assault as well as provide counsel and help those who have been raped. “I believe [the idea of] advocacy is showing victims the whole spectrum of options they have” said Cedillo. The options vary, but the message is that something can be done and that a victim does not hold himself or herself at fault for being raped. “It’s common to see many victims blaming themselves for being raped, asking questions like ‘what was I doing there,’ or ‘I shouldn’t have drunken that night, this is all my fault.’ We want to make victims aware that it is not their fault [that] they were assaulted,” Cedillo said.

The UC seminars displayed Cedillo using unique deliveries and techniques to reach her audience of young college students, whose attention may wander if they are not captivated. For example, Cedillo uses scenarios between males and females where she highlights important ideas and principles that are similar to real life dealings. The way the stories are delivered, with energy, humor, and enough enthusiasm makes her audience grasp just what exactly she is explaining to them.

Something that catches people’s attention even more is the insistence that males should be aware of being assaulted themselves. Cedillo stated that, “One or two males reported a sexual assault within the last year.” She also felt it was important to note that modern society is not sympathetic to males who are put into this type of situation. She believes this to be one of the reasons not all occurrences are reported.
Another disturbing note the P.E.A.C.E. Project explains to people is that freshmen women are targeted more than in any other class. Cedillo insisted that this was the biggest reason why the UC seminars took place.

These are just some of the issues the P.E.A.C.E. Project handles. There are even more topics discussed and handled by the organization. For more information please contact their office at (936) 857-2008.