Workshops, a march on campus and a special presentation by a counseling center director will be part of this year's "Take Back the Night" activities at Denison University. Alan Berkowitz, with more than 20 years of experience in higher education, will present "Promoting Consent, Preventing Coercion: What Men and Women Can Do to Prevent Sexual Assault" at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (April 3) in Herrick Auditorium.

Following the Berkowitz presentation, students will participate in a "Take Back the Night" march at 8:30 p.m. starting in front of Herrick Hall. A reception follows the march at approximately 9:30 p.m. on the first floor of Fellows Hall. All of these activities are free and open to the public.

Berkowitz earned his doctorate in psychology from Cornell University and is a licensed psychologist in the state of New York. A Fellow of the American College Health Association, he has been recognized by the American College Personnel Association for his outstanding contributions to men's issues. At Hobart and William Smith Colleges, he developed a model rape prevention program for men and was co-director of the college's highly regarded "Men and Masculinity Program." Berkowitz also has been a central figure in the development of a social norms theory and is a leader in research and implementation of the model.

At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (April 4) in the Barney-Davis Hall Boardroom, Berkowitz will lead a workshop designed to provide men with skills to approach the issue of sexual assault, to intervene with other men, and to reduce their own risk of perpetrating. The session is titled "Sexual Assault Prevention Strategies for Men: Being Part of the Solution."

Students also participated in a self-defense workshop last Saturday (March 23) which was presented by IMPACT Safety Programs. The "Take Back the Night" activities are sponsored on campus by Women's Programs, Women's Emphasis, the Campus Environment Team, Students for Choice, the health and counseling center and the campus and residential life office.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575