UT Southwestern’s Police Department hosted an emotional forum on domestic and sexual violence on April 18, attracting the largest crowd in the program’s three-year history.

With April designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, advocates from Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC) and Women Called Moses spoke before a packed lecture hall, shedding light on rape culture and violence within relationships.

In 2017, 12 cases of dating and domestic violence and stalking were reported to UTSW Police, although all occurred off campus.

This year’s discussion almost made me cry, Barbara Green, an Administrative Assistant in the Division of Cardiology within the Internal Medicine Department, said afterward. There are people who experience sexual and domestic violence who won’t come out and seek help, but I can pass on the information I received and be a resource.

One of the speakers was Nicole Rishard, a domestic violence survivor who held back tears as she recalled the terrifying encounter that almost ended her son’s life.

All I could do was call on the name Jesus, said Ms. Rishard, a mother of two sons and a volunteer with Women Called Moses, a local organization that seeks to be an “underground railroad for survivors of domestic violence.”

Her story instantly attracted media attention and was spotlighted again when her ex-husband was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2016 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The couple’s seven-year marriage had ended in 2013, but her ex-husband began stalking her, she said, showing up at his stepsons’ weekly football games, among other things.

After one game, he followed Ms. Rishard and the boys home to DeSoto.

We were celebrating a win and after we pulled into the garage, we heard a loud noise as the garage door was going down, Ms. Rishard said. The garage door stopped and my ex-husband was there. He shot my son four times and shot at me.

Ms. Rishard’s mind cleared after invoking her faith and she was able to pull away and drive to safety. Her son’s wounds left him with a 10 percent chance of survival, but he made a full recovery and now plays college football.

Discussion leaders made it clear that so-called risk reduction tactics aimed at victims – such as wearing “appropriate” clothing and limiting drinking in social gatherings – are not enough to address domestic and sexual violence.

Sean Woods, Primary Prevention Coordinator for Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center, told the audience: “We need to stop the violence from perpetration to begin with.”

This does not solve the problem of sexual violence, said Sean Woods, Primary Prevention Coordinator for DARCC. We need to stop the violence from perpetration to begin with.

Lt. Adam Jones, commander of the UTSW Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Prevention Unit, emphasized the importance of teaching the concept of consent to boys and girls in early childhood.

We can’t force kids to give out hugs if they don’t want to, Lt. Jones said. They have to know that it’s their right to say no. This starts with home education and it’s not best to rely on schools to teach them this concept.

Those interested in this issue don’t have to wait until next year’s discussion to take a stand against domestic and sexual violence. Throughout the year, the UT Southwestern Police Department provides a Rape and Aggression Defense (RAD) workshop for women as well as a Personal Defense Readiness course for both men and women. Register for classes in Taleo.