When it comes to dating behaviors, acting on one’s assumptions might be more than asinineat best it’s awkward and at worst it’s criminal.
That’s why Mike Domitrz, executive director of the Date Safe Project, travels across the country presenting a fun, interactive and thought-provoking program called “Can I Kiss You?”
Eleanor Finger, director of Residence Life, said Domitrz will bring his message of permission-based dating to the CUB auditorium at 7 p.m. tonight and all are welcome, including middle-school and high-school students.
“It’s totally about communication and how you can talk effectively about what you want and what you are comfortable with,” she said. “It isn’t a sex program per se, but it is, ‘how do we talk about this?’ “
Reached by telephone at the University of Texas, Austin, where he was preparing for a program Wednesday night, Domitrz agreed that the show, while aimed at college students, was appropriate for younger teens.
“Imagine if college students already had this information before they arrived on campus,” he said.
But most students don’t have this information, he said, because people think they should be able to read each other’s body language and trust their instincts. But, he said, that is a recipe for disaster.
Domitrz begins his shows by confronting the reality and the myths of dating behaviors “right up front,” he said. Virtually no one arrives at his shows thinking it is possible to ask permission for a kiss without looking like a fool. But, he said, through role playing and back and forth interaction, asking permission not only begins to seem possible, it begins to make sense.
Domitrz has been presenting programs on dating, communication and sexual assault awareness for about 15 years. He became interested in the subject, he said, when he himself was in college and learned that his younger sister had been raped. At first his presentations were pretty straightforward, he said, but then a college professor urged him to begin incorporating more of his theater training; his presentations evolved from there.
“Can I Kiss You” is being sponsored by the Department of Residence Life and admission is free. For more information on Domitrz’ program, go to https://www.canikissyou.com
