What is rape? This question was examined at a program called “When a Kiss is Not Just a Kiss” held Tuesday night in Brown Hall auditorium.
“When a Kiss is Not Just a Kiss” was a program about date rape. It began with an introduction by Kim Bushore-Maki, coordinator of outreach programs in the Counseling Center. She described the skit as intense and informed the audience that the counselors were present if anyone was uncomfortable with the issues examined during the performance.
Bushore-Maki explained that the skit was not to promote sex or drinking, nor was it saying not to engage in these things. “We’re trying to take a slice of life and give you something to think about when you leave here,” she said.
The skit began with two girls, Jessica and Megan, trying to find something to do on Friday night. Jessica wanted to meet a guy who was friends with Megan’s boyfriend. Everything was arranged and the two boys, Ryan and John, went to Megan’s house.
They all drank quite a bit, and Jessica was feeling sick by the end of the night. John volunteered to help Jessica to bed, and when they got there they began kissing. John tried to go farther, but Jessica didn’t want to. She tried to push him away, and she told him to slow down, but he wouldn’t. John raped her.
When the skit was over the actors stayed in character to allow the audience to ask them questions about how each of them felt after the rape occurred. Jessica was visibly shaken, but had no plans to contact the police because she wasn’t sure if she had actually been raped.
“I always thought of rape as someone you don’t know, the dark alley thing, not someone you kind of know and that you could consider having a relationship with,” Jessica said.
After the audience asked questions, the actors introduced themselves and spoke about their feelings about date rape. Kathleen Rogan, a theatre major who played the role of Megan, said, “In Jessica’s mind, she’s sending signals that say ‘no.’ You have to ask for consent and have consent given.”
The skit was a painfully honest view on things that happen very often but are unheard of. Josh Hite, a theatre major who played the role of Josh, read the definition of rape from the Tennessee State Law handbook. It clearly states that some form of consent, body language, yes, or a head nod must be given for it to be OK to have sex with someone.
Chad Martin, a theatre major who played the role of John, said, “Jessica clearly did not want to have sex. John did. Just because you imply the wrong things, it doesn’t make it OK.

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