DeKALB — Safe Passage, local domestic violence and victim advocacy shelter, partnered with fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta for Sexual Assault Awareness Month with “Rape is a Man’s Issue.”

Sigma Lambda Beta held the presentation 7 p.m. Monday in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center. The event was presented by Communication Director Lynnea Erickson Laskowski and Prevention Specialist Kaiya Kersh, both representatives from Safe Passage. Erickson Laskowski led a presentation with informational videos and perspectives from attendees on gendered double standards for abuse survivors, particularly the obstacles men face when sharing their experiences with abuse.

“Events like this are really important,” Erickson Laskowski said. “We know [sexual assault] happens to one in six men, and the vast majority don’t come forward because they don’t know who to talk to or if anyone will believe them. The more we have this conversation, the more we create safe places for men to come forward and get the help they deserve.”

Erickson Laskowski began the presentation with an outline of sexual assault statistics.

She said every nine minutes, a child is involved in a sexual assault, and only 38 percent of child victims come forward. She also said instances in which a victim knows their abuser account for 80 percent of all assaults. Additionally, she said 1 in 16 college-aged men will experience sexual violence in some manner.

Erickson Laskowski said children are at the utmost risk of being affected by sexual violence in some way. Because unwanted behaviors both target and start young, she said attendees should take extra care to educate the children in their lives on consent and unhealthy relationships.

She also said part of that education starts with dismantling the trivialization of abuse survivors and their experiences. She said by letting children know survivors’ accounts are nothing to be made light of, progress can be seen.

“Rape jokes tell the worst among us that what they do is OK,” Laskowski said.

After familiarizing attendees with facts on Illinois victim advocacy legislation, Erickson Laskowski switched to highlighting double standards in male abuse narratives.

She showed various Twitter reactions to reports of female teachers assaulting underage male students, which she said ranged from dismissive to congratulatory, failing to recognize the occurrence of a crime which would garner comparatively more outrage if involving an underage female student.

Another student spoke about everyday dismissals of similar cases he heard about from fellow underclassmen. He said indifference toward male survivors is too commonplace, and he encouraged attendees to call out rude or dismissive remarks from friends and acquaintances.

Members of Sigma Lambda Beta spoke on the forum’s importance.

Thomas O’Leary, sophomore operations management and information systems major and a member of the fraternity, said Sigma Lambda Beta has taken a particular interest in hosting and participating in events that raise awareness of sexual assault.

“One of our pillars is cultural awareness, and another is community service,” O’Leary said. “Basically, we just want to keep the community in check with all consent laws and make sure we don’t promote rape culture, [making] sure we’re all on the same page. Everyone needs to play an active bystander role to know what steps to take and make an effective statement.”

Students attending the event commented on the necessity of bringing unheard perspectives to conversations around abuse.

Sandra Puebla, senior political science and history major, said she attended the event as a way to educate herself on accountability in presenting survivors’ narratives, regardless of gender.

“I think it’s especially important because of how much assault happens on college campuses,” Puebla said. “A simple ‘tea or consent’ video shown every year isn’t going to confront that. We need constant programming, constant discussion.”