Rape on campus is an issue that needs to be discussed across all campuses in the United States. As hookup culture begins to change with these dating applications on our phones, parties and social scenes. College Students and Faculty need to be aware of how to approach sexual assaults on campuses and what to do in these sexual assault cases.

One stigma that is still around is victim-blaming, which is where the fault falls on the victim. A perfect example of victim-blaming is, According to CNN, A judge in Canada made a comment during a trial to the victim, when he says, “Just keep (her) knees together.” This shows how relevant rape culture is within our society that victim blaming is normal when it shouldn’t be. It should not matter what he or she was wearing or how much alcohol was consumed. No one deserves to be violated. The Justice scale needs to be balanced on both sides for both parties. The Huffington Post says, “As many as one in four women experience sexual assault at college, though the vast majority never report it, according to a study of students nine schools.” The media has shown as some cases where Administrative staff has not fulfilled their expectation on their part which makes it harder for victims to come forward because who’s going to believe them?

The law that all colleges have to comply with is Title IX is a right that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. All schools have a Title IX Coordinator that handles all complaints for sexual assault. If you decide to file a complaint, your school must promptly investigate it regardless of whether you report to the police. A school may not wait for the conclusion of the police. They have to conclude its own investigation within a semester’s time. Marymount Manhattan College’s own Title IX, Christine Gregory explains the procedures and policies at MMC. When MMC Staff, Faculty, RA or Peer Leader becomes aware of a sexual assault incident. They must report it to Title IX Coordinator. Students are able to make report on their own as well. The panel which consists of Faculty and Staff runs a thorough investigation of both parties and come to a conclusion. A student of sexual assault can always go straight to the Police to file a report. Specifically for Marymount Manhattan College, if the accuser is not a student. Gregorys job is to give them resources to get help and treatment. She ensures that sexual assault incident does not affect the victim's academic career and that he or she stays on the route toward graduation. Gregory says, “It’s my goal to make sure that victims restart their lives over again and keep on track for graduation.”

One action that we all can take is using Affirmative consent. The dictionary defines it as knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity. An example of that would be each other asking if it’s okay to go further with the sexual activity. No means No and Yes means Yes. There is no double meaning behind those words. Both parties should know what they are getting into and consent to what they are going to do. Gregory says, “No one deserves to be raped. We all deserve a chance for higher education.”