A First Year Seminar (FSEM) class will present their findings this evening from a quarter-long study on gender violence in Sturm Hall 280 at 4:30 p.m. According to Gender and Woman’s Studies Professor Lindsey Feitz, who taught the class, the study is aimed to increase awareness of gender violence to students.

While the official results of the students’ study will not be fully revealed until the presentation this evening, Feitz said there are some common themes audience members can expect to hear about.

For instance, she said the research compiled indicates that men have a different understanding of the definition of rape and consent. Additionally, she said there was indication that first year students have less of an understanding about gender violence than upper classmen.

“The gender gap is both part of the problem and part of the solution,” said Feitz. “We want to help guys out there learn to be even better.”

Feitz’s class is called “Teen Grrls and Popular Culture,” and focuses on the issues of media portrayal of women and the correlation to gender violence on campus. The class is designed as a Service Learning Course (SLC), classes which are designed to provide some sort of service to the community and often work with a community partner on a project. This is the first time the class has been taught.

“The model for service learning is to get students to re-think service as looking at your own community and using peers to investigate and solve a problem,” said Feitz.

The study was conducted with five groups in Feitz’s class handling different sections of the study. Sections included understanding the definition of gender violence, men’s role on campus, and methods for change. Each group conducted research through several common methods, including peer interviews and surveys.

The class also conducted a study on how to increase public awareness for the campus group Rape Awareness and Gender Education (RAGE).

When Feitz heard RAGE needed to increase membership, the class switched its focus to acting as publicity consultants for the group.

At the end of the quarter, the class will present RAGE with a detailed step-by-step plan on how to increase membership.

“The idea is that they are not doing this work just for a grade, but that it will actually help gender services,” said Feitz.

Feitz said she and her students hope the research will make an impact on the campus audience and stimulate change. While an FSEM presenting findings of a study is not commonly practiced, Feitz said she hopes it will help to create positive change on campus.

“We are presenting for them not just to share their research, but because (the study) is structured around the campus community and that only makes sense,” said Feitz.

Feitz said the class has already had a positive impact on the development of the student’s understanding of themselves, their role as educators and their experiences.

“The consequence of the class has been them sharing their own experience as young women and the pressure they feel, and being in a safe environment where they get to study that,” said Feitz.