SABER has big plans for this semester, including cosponsoring a candlelight vigil at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, outside the UC to mark October as Domestic Violence Month.

SABER (Sexual Assault Behavior Education Response) is an approved UTM student activity group working to promote awareness, prevention and effective response to sexual assault. It was developed to respond to some startling statistics.

•College students are in the highest risk age group for sexual assault (16 to 24).

•Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 6 college women experience some sort of sexual victimization nationwide.

•Freshman women in their first semester are at the highest risk for sexual assault.

•Most women are victimized by men they know or are dating.

•Most victims of sexual assault don’t report it because they are embarrassed, frightened or worried that they will be blamed.

•Alcohol consumption by both parties involved is a major factor in sexual assault.

•According to the American Medical Association, 1 in 5 girls is physically or sexually assaulted by a dating partner before graduating from high school.

The members of SABER are uniting to help people affected by sexual assault. Some of these members have trained to become Peer Educators. With this training, they will be able to discuss sexual assault issues with other students and provide information about reducing the risk of being sexually assaulted.

These Peer Educators plan to hold workshops about sexual assault on campus and in the community.

For more information about SABER, contact Dr. Jennifer Levy at the Counseling Center.