What The Anderson Case Means For Sexual Assault Survivors
Start writing a post
Survivors

The Jacob Anderson Plea Deal Is An Insult To Sexual Assault Survivors Of The Past, Present And Future

It screams a big old F-U to sexual assault victims in America.

150
The Jacob Anderson Plea Deal Is An Insult To Sexual Assault Survivors Of The Past, Present And Future

Jacob Anderson, a former fraternity president at Baylor University, will avoid jail time and being registered as a sex offender by taking a plea deal after being accused of raping a 19-year-old at a party. In fact, he will simply pay a fine, waltz through some counseling, have three years of probation and then continue to live freely. Meanwhile, the young woman will walk around knowing that her rapist stole her virginity and her safety. Instead of being treated like a rapist, which in the court system isn't saying much to begin with (remember Brock Turner?), he was simply given a charge of "unlawful restraint."

The victim was most likely drugged and then left on the ground unconscious after the attacker had finished his revolting deed. Anderson was taken to court where he was let off too easy for comfort. The victim, identified in court documents only as Donna Doe, has had her innocence and purity stolen by a man that only wanted to use her for one thing. The victim said, "He repeatedly raped me orally and (vaginally) while choking me, gagging me and physically forcing my body into positions so he could continue to rape me." She added that he is "now free to roam society, stalk women, and no one will know he is a sex offender."

Doe is right, her offender will not only have tainted a perfect life that she could have lived but will now roam freely to commit these acts again against defenseless women.

To make things even sweeter in this case, it was discovered that all of the attorneys and judge in the case have a degree from Baylor University. Isn't that slick? A straight connection to protecting a boy from the country's largest Baptist university.

Do the connections provide an advantage to Anderson? Hell yeah, they do.

They provide a blanket of protection for a 23-year-old man who took advantage of a woman when she couldn't defend herself simply because of the name on their degrees. These attorneys and judge would never want to taint the "perfect" reputation of the university they attended, so obviously all protective measures would be taken for Anderson and not his victim.

So as Americans, what do we do? Do we continue to sit around and watch cases like these happen over and over again? Where we watch people like Jacob Anderson and Brock Turner walk freely after being accused of egregious crimes that ruin lives? In October of this year, I wrote an article surrounding rape culture. According to RAINN, an American citizen is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. This isn't a woman's problem either. Men are susceptible to rape as well. So this case and other's like it just throw the middle finger in sexual assault victims of past, present and future's faces. It tells the young women and men of our nation that it's OK to rape and that the "justice" system will not protect you but your rapist instead. Every minute and a half, your neighbors, friends, peers and family members are susceptible to sexual assault, yet we still see cases like these slide through our "justice" system.

What is justice if rapists, looters of innocence, can walk free every day? What's justice when a kid with connections and money from mommy and daddy's bank account can walk clean if he obeys his three-year probation? What kind of country are we raising our youth in? I sure as hell don't want to raise my young boys to think that being a sexual predator is OK, and I don't want to raise my daughters to be scared every time they go out to have a good time.

Do you?

So what do we do? We start talking about sexual assault. We STOP referring to rape as the "R-word" and tell it like it is. Rapists rape people, and they get away with it. When American society becomes outraged enough, cases like this will cease to happen. But the main problem is that rapists know they can walk away clean and America doesn't do anything about it. Rapists know that at the end of the day the only real harm will be done to their victims, not them. What's three months in jail when you've ruined someone's whole psychological view on life? Nothing. It's nothing.

So it's time to act, not to remain stagnant. It's time to write your local legislators for harsher legislation and punishments against those who sexually assault. Tweet them, write them a letter, talk to your friends and family about it. I hope that reading this, you're just as outraged as I am because it's time for the American public to do something.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

45243
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

28603
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

953171
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

160037
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments