EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Alan Berkowitz gave a lecture on sexual assault last night in the Social Sciences building as part of Sexual Responsibility Week.

Sexual assault not only hurts women. It also hurts men, said Alan D. Berkowitz, guest speaker at a lecture last night to kick off ASUA's Sexual Responsibility Week.

Approximately 200 men from UA fraternities, clubs and organizations sat in the audience to learn how they could prevent sexual assault and violence against women.

Berkowitz, an independent consultant on health and social justice issues, told the audience that sexual assault hurts men directly because it makes women afraid of them, fosters negative stereotypes of men makes men look dangerous and, most importantly, it hurts the women men know, he said.

Noah Aleshire, coordinator for the event and Associated Students of the University of Arizona Campus Acquaintance Rape Educators director, said approximately one in four women will be assaulted in their lifetime.

"The prevention of sexual assault is a serious issue that doesn't get enough attention," he said.

Berkowitz said the most important thing for men to do is educate themselves about sexual assault.

"Sexual assault is when someone is forced against their will, without agreement, to have sex with someone else," Berkowitz said.

I feel like I'm more in touch with women, and I can relate to them more. - Charlie Hall, agriculture and resource economics senior

In a lecture-style format, Berkowitz outlined four guidelines for consensual sexual activity.

According to the guidelines, for sex that's considered consensual, both people are fully conscious, are equally free to act, have clearly communicated their intentions and are positive and sincere in their desires.

A major way of preventing sexual assault is to voice your concerns and discomforts when men talk about women in a negative or inappropriate way, Berkowitz said.

"As men, we're worried about what other men will say about us," Berkowitz said.

"Express discomfort to men who you think could be violent, disrespectful or harmful to women."

Many men also have a fear of being falsely accused of sexual assault, Berkowitz said.

"False accusations almost never happen," he said. "It takes a tremendous amount of courage to come forward, and you can think you have permission when you really don't."

Berkowitz also offered suggestions on what to do if someone tells you they have been sexually assaulted.

"The first thing to do is to believe him or her," he said.

"After listening, make sure the person gets whatever medical attention or moral support they need."

Victims of sexual assault can visit the Oasis Center for confidential and free counseling, or the Southern Arizona Center against Sexual Assault for medical treatment immediately following an assault.

Charlie Hall, an agriculture and resource economics senior, said the lecture had a positive impact on him.

"It increased my awareness of the issue," he said. "I feel like I'm more in touch with women, and I can relate to them more."