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Organization assists educators in sexual assault awareness

By Alexa Ashwell
By Alexa Ashwell

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte-based national violence prevention organization is hosting a two-day, free training session to North and South Carolina educators to prevent sexual assault in high schools and colleges.

Leaders of A Call to Men completed day one of the event at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel Thursday.

The event, titled Live Respect on Campus, is providing education and prevention strategies on engaging boys and young men to reduce sexual assault and promote healthy, respectful manhood.

“We're targeting the folks that have influence over our young men,” said Tony Porter, co-Founder and CEO of A Call to Men.

“Coaches, educators, faculty, resident assistants in dorms have a captive audience of boys,” Porter said. "These young men spend a critical amount of time with you. You have influence. You have a platform.”

A Call to Men organizers said the group has reached more than 500 universities.
The organization said local universities participating in this training include Johnson C. Smith University, Davidson College and University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

In February, three local college students were arrested, accused of sexual violence against women.

Officials said Davidson College student George Ward Coleman was accused of sexual battery involving a fellow student in a campus dorm room.

In the same month, two UNCC students were accused of sexual assault.

“It’s still one of the leading cause of injury to women," Porter said. “We have a long way to go. It’s at epidemic proportions, but at the same time, I would say we're paying attention to it in ways we've never (paid attention to it) before."

The conference runs through Friday.

Porter is expected to speak at UNCC at 7 p.m. on March 14.

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