Radford University students call out fraternity men for not attending rape prevention program

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RADFORD (WSLS 10) - Controversy erupted at Radford University after a sexual assault prevention program attracted a lopsided crowd.

As part of Women's History Month, the organization Men Can Stop Rape gave a presentation on campus.

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Even though it was geared more toward men, more ladies attended than guys.

The student-led council over campus sororities, the Panhellenic Council, mandated every sorority sister to attend. A different student-led council over fraternities, the Interfraternity Council, voted to require only eight men from each fraternity to go.

Panhellenic Council president Kaitlyn Julien said she received hundreds of calls and text messages from outraged sorority members.

"I just don't think that they realize how important it was to us," Julien said. "I don't think that when they went to vote, that they were thinking the way we were in terms of, not only are we donating a lot of money to this, but it's also a really important program."

Interfraternity Council president Dustin Craig said they made that decision to ensure there were enough fraternity brothers to attend other events that week. Craig could not recall if there were any fraternity events March 1st, the night of the presentation.

Craig also said his council did not know at the time of its vote that all the girls were required to attend.

"I definitely think it's just as important, if not more important, to the men," Craig said. "I just think it was a lack of communication."

According to the latest national numbers from CNN and the Washington Post, 23 percent of women are sexually assaulted during their four years of undergraduate study. Five percent of college men experience sexual assault on campus.

The Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council all contributed money to bring the Men Can Stop Rape program to Radford University.