The Sexual Misconduct and Assault Resource Team (S.M.A.R.T.) organized a mock rape trial as part of sexual assault awareness month.

The trial took place Thursday at the courthouse. Courthouse attor­\neys, a judge and a doctor presenting the harm of date rape drugs were part of the event. Wartburg students and members of the community also served on the jury.

“It helps to have this event at the courthouse, because a lot of people don’t know what all goes into the trial. It makes this trial seem more authentic,” Sarah Frazell, co-presi­dent of S.M.A.R.T., said.

The trial portrayed stereotypes and gave both the victim and the defendant a chance to give their point of view. The verdict changes every year to make the situation more real.

The event is intended to raise students’ awareness of sexual as­sault issues. The trial was moved to the courthouse because attendance slipped the last two years in the McCaskey Lyceum on campus.

The trial was sponsored by Ce­dar Valley Friends of the Family (CVFF), a crisis intervention and prevention agency working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“People don’t realize that this does happen even in small-town Waverly, Iowa. Students should not be afraid to speak up,” Court­ney Anderson, co-president of S.M.A.R.T., said.

Anderson said more people re­ported sexual assault incidents since the Vagina Monologues and the V-Day campaign in February.

Females are victims of sexual as­sault more often than males. Some men learn from a young age that they are supposed to have power over women, Anderson said.

Women are most at risk from the first day of their freshman year to fall break. Most of the cases that have been reported to S.M.A.R.T. have been first-year women.

S.M.A.R.T. is encouraging stu­dents to attend advocacy training provided by CVFF during April and May.
After the training, the trainee will become an advocate with an opportunity to go to court with sexual assault survivors as emotional support during their trial. Those interested may contact Sarah Juhl at (319) 352-0037.