Dear Judicial Affairs,
After some incidents with students reporting sexual assault cases to the university with failed recognition, I have some words to express.
Consent is not sexy, it's mandatory. If you don't get it, you don't do it. Rape is not sex; there is no in between
In recent media coverage, rape has been seen as a joke and is almost never taken seriously. Rape culture is when we as people, society and community, perpetuate acts and behaviors that make rape OK. One in three women are raped every nine seconds, one in seven men will be raped in their lifetime, while one in two trans-identifying people will be sexual assaulted.
With those disgusting statistics, it's important to note that rape is never the victim's fault. Rape happens by rapists who in relation to the survivor can be a friend, family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, ex-partner, sexual partner and anyone. Rape can happen to any gender, expression and identity regardless of sexual orientation.
If someone does not get a definite "yes" from a partner, they cannot have sex with that person. It does not matter what they are wearing, what they drank at a party or past history. In order to have sex with someone, you must receive consent. It's that simple.
A person's body, attitudes, personality or state of being does not give automatic consent for someone to do whatever they want to someone else's body.
I have personally known too many people who have gone to Judicial Affairs reporting a sexual assault or rape case and having them throw back that it was their fault for the assault. So what you're saying, Judicial Affairs, is that the person who was raped asked to be raped? How does that make sense?
No one asks to be raped just like no one asks for cancer, a robbery, someone to die or to lose a job.
Being raped does more to a person than anyone will ever know. There is constant fear that your attacker will be in the same class, area or major as you. You physically feel disgusting because the feeling of being attacked is left on your skin. Emotionally, you are drained. Explain how that's not enough evidence for a rape case to not go through further.
How much more evidence do you need? How many times does a survivor need to tell their story in order for you to understand their words are true? How much longer do we need to wait to make it a norm that the survivor is not the one at fault?
There is a double standard in our society so often that preaches one thing and then does another. If we are going to decrease the rape culture and increase students safety and voice on our campus, we have to start listening to them.
We need to take action when we know something wrong has happened. We need to believe a survivor when they say they have been raped. Ninety-seven percent of rapists will never spend a night in jail for their crime. Tell me how that is OK. Please explain to all of the survivors why you're deciding to protect the rapist than protect the survivor.
Get your act together, Fredonia, because there are more rape and sexual assault survivors that are too afraid to say anything because you instill that fear that makes survivors say nothing. You perpetuate rape culture. You stop students from coming forward and telling their stories. You are the problem.
I stand with the strangers, friends and loved ones who have been raped or sexually assaulted on all college campuses and hope that they will receive the justice they greatly deserve.
If you, or someone you love has been affected by domestic violence, sexual assault or rape, please seek help immediately. Here are some numbers and services to use-
National Resources:
safehorizon.org - 212.227.3000 (24/7 Hotline)
RAINN - 800.656.HOPE (4673) (This will connect you to a service locally)
The National Domestic Violence Hotline - 800.799.SAFE
Local Resources for SUNY Fredonia Students:
Jamestown, NY Anew Shelter - 800-252-8748 (24 Hotline)
CEASE/Counseling Center - 716.673.3424
University Police - 716.673.3333
