Johanna Maska will never forget a story she heard her sophomore year.

It’s the story of 20-year-old Kristen Cooper, a Baker University student who committed suicide in 1995 after experiencing an acquaintance rape. Maska said though the story was alarming, it didn’t surprise her.

“I’ve always been pretty aware of sexual assault cases,” said Maska, a Galesburg, Ill., Kansas University junior.

Administrators in KU’s Student Development Center are trying to curb instances of sexual assault and physical abuse against women by starting the Men’s Outreach Program.

“Statistics have shown that one in five women on college campuses will be the target of an attempted assault or completed assault,” said Kathy Rose-Mockry, associate director of the Student Development Center.

Rose-Mockry said the outreach program would address issues that might bring on violence against women by raising awareness, promoting dialogue and encouraging involvement and leadership among college men.

“By and large 98 percent of the violence committed against women is committed by men,” Rose-Mockry said.

Program directors will have discussion panels each semester that prompt men to address masculine stereotypes that may lead to the abuse of women.

“Recent studies have shown that men overestimate the sexual encounters of other men, which leads to sexual myths. This could impact a man’s ability to make good decisions,” Rose-Mockry said.

Nearly a dozen men from KU’s campus have signed up to help with the program. Tony Daniels, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs; Gary Kempf, director of Student-Athlete Life, and Danny Kaiser, director of the Organizations and Leadership Center, are just a few.

“Late adolescent men come to college and don’t have a good understanding of the wide variety of gender issues that are out there,” Kaiser said.

The Student Development Center is now looking for a male student to direct the Men’s Outreach Program. Center officials hope to have someone hired by the start of the fall classes next week.

Though official numbers don’t reflect it, Rose-Mockry says instances of sexual assault and abuse are most frequent at the start of the school year.

For administrators like Kaiser, it’s an opportunity to be a mentor for young men, and expand the traditional role of the university.

“If they don’t have that information, it’s our job to provide it,” he said.

Though the Men’s Outreach Program won’t start until a student director is hired, people interested in participating can call 864-4064 for information.