Sexual assault on college campuses and in personal relationships will be the topic of the latest Civic Luncheon Lecture Series presentation at Kansas State University Salina.

“What Defines Sexual Violence and Rape?” will be presented at noon Thursday, Feb. 12, at K-State Salina’s College Center conference room. The gathering will feature three expert panelists: Amanda Olivier, sexual assault advocate from the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas; Glen Stovall, licensed specialist clinical social worker with Wellspring Psychotherapy; and Shannon Garretson, educational director of the Salina Community Theatre and registered drama therapist. Joel Matthews, a K-State Salina psychology instructor, will serve as the moderator.

The panel plans to cover the topics of consent, victim blaming and being an active bystander, while also addressing collegiate sexual assaults, specifically male accountability. The presentation aims to educate the audience and assist them in starting a dialogue about the difficult subject matter.

“Talking about sexual violence is critical to the movement to end violence,” Olivier said. “Open conversations allow the stigma that has always accompanied sexual violence to begin to dissipate. My hope is that it will be like any ‘normal’ conversation.”

The first Civic Luncheon Lecture Series of the 2015 spring semester is free and the public is invited. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch or purchase their lunch at the K-State Café and then bring their tray into the conference room.

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Story by: Julee Cobb / KSU Salina