According to the National Institute of Justice, 85% of sexual assault victims know the person that has attacked them. And according to SARSSM, 40% of sexual assault takes place in the victim's own home and more than half take place within a mile from the victim's home.
This was not the case for a young woman, who requests to be anonymous, attending a frat party just outside Stanford University the night of January 28, 2015.
Based on her heartfelt testimony (which can be found here) she attended the party with her younger sister. She remembers pouring herself a few drinks, dancing, and enjoying herself. The next thing she remembers was the ceiling of a hospital as she was riding a gurney to an examination room.
she was found nearly naked, unconscious, behind a dumpster with her assailant fleeing.
At the time, she did not know her assaulter, but she would eventually come to know him as Brock Turner-- All American swimmer for Stanford University, Olympic potential, and now her rapist.
She recounts picking pine needles out of her hair and feeling the cuts and scrapes all over her bottom and hands. She was missing her underwear. He ripped them off of her. She also had pine needles and abrasions inside her vagina. Her bra was pulled down, exposing her breasts.
She is clearly the victim in this situation, which begs the question, what is being done about Brock Turner's actions.
Well, let me tell you. Because of his potential in swimming, his (up until now) perfect record, and good grades, he was given an easy sentence. Six months.
Now that's bad enough as it is, but he was just released this friday, September 2nd, 2016 due to earning merit rewards and good behavior.
typically, sentences for rape are six to seven years in a federal prison, says sexoffenderatourney.com.
Did I mention that Turner only served his time in Santa Clara County Jail? Not even in a federal prison. AND he was in protective custody.
Not to worry, Judge Persky, the presiding judge in Santa Clara County, who prosecuted him and allowed such leniency has come into question a great deal. The people created a petition that gained over a million signatures by June 10, 2016 that demanded his resignation.
So after all the trauma that this young woman had to go through, all the fear and tears that she has to live through, her attacker is free once again. This is not justice. This is rape culture and white privilege at it's finest.
As college is just beginning to start once again, the prevalence of sexual assaults will most definitely grow. Remember people, be aware of your surroundings, monitor your drinking, and most importantly-- if you see someone in a compromising situation, help them.
Sheetal Tadiparty
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