Dating expert, Mike Domitrz, delivered his presentation “Can I Kiss You,” in the Velzey North room of Ullsvik Hall April 28. This event, to bring attention to sexual assault awareness month, was sponsored by the Grant County sexual assault task force.

“When you use words to give someone the right to choose, you’re doing the right thing,” Domitrz said. “I want to give people the tools they need to speak out against sexual assault.”

The presentation started with a humorous tone. Domitrz asked for a male and female volunteer from the audience and demonstrated how body language is misconstrued by both genders.

“Body language is frustrating, upsetting and just annoying” Domitrz said.

“He got the crowd involved and was very funny,” Alicia Schauer, Grant County sexual assault task force member, said.

The laughs continued as Domitrz interacted with the crowd. Domitrz brought up all the reasons why nobody just asks their partner or date to be intimate. He discussed how both genders expect the other to do the asking and how there should be equal expectations. He talked about how television makes asking about intimacy dramatic when it can be awkward and nerve-racking.

“He makes you think of things in a different perspective,” Schauer said.

The mood of the performance took a serious turn when Domitrz brought up the use of alcohol to take advantage of a person. Using alcohol is all about controlling someone’s choice of intimacy, Domitrz said. People need to step in and stop a friend from being raped or being a rapist.

“I wasn’t ready for the serious twist, it caught me off guard,” Sam Kreuser, a sophomore majoring in building construction management, said.

Domitrz continued to pull at the emotion of the audience, when he spoke of his sister being raped. He told the audience how he learned about his sister’s rape over the phone from his mother and how it affected him.

“My sister is my inspiration,” Domitrz said. “Every rape survivor is an incredible person who is strong, courageous and determined and full of will. You should never pity a rape survivor we should admire them.”

It takes 20 seconds to help rape survivors, Domitrz said. Most victims of rape don’t tell anyone that they were raped due to fear. By taking 20 seconds, the fear can be eliminated. The important thing is to let people know you are there for them and will support them, Domitrz said.

After speaking on his personal experiences, Domitrz came back to his message about asking. He brought some humor back to the presentation, talking about how words can be spontaneous. No matter the length of a relationship, asking is always right because you can ask about anything, Domitrz said.

“He had a good message but I’m not completely sold that it is less awkward to ask,” Kreuser said.

“He brought good points and issues and enlightened everyone in a humorous way,” Abby Felix, Campus Programming and Relations event manager, said.