We need to change the conversation about sex. Sexual assault, that is. For some reason it seems that more people nowadays believe that it is okay to have sex with a non-consenting individual. Whether that individual is unconscious or unable to give consent, it is not okay to assume that they want to have sex. With all the news circulation that has been going around, it appears that sexual assault and rape have been more prevalent around college campuses recently. Some legislators tried to fix this epidemic by creating the Safe Campus Act. However, despite some half-hearted attempts to change the discussion, this act, along with the attitudes towards this sexual behavior, have not changed the fact that it's still being done.
Let's start with the Safe Campus Act. The name is misleading. First, it was an attempt by legislators to stop the prevalence of sexual assault on campuses. However, it does the opposite. Provisions will interfere with colleges taking any action in sexual assault allegations unless a formal police investigation is being conducted or until the victim reports it to the police first. Thus, colleges could not punish the perpetrator unless the victim makes a police report, waiting until the police completes the investigation. This investigation can last months, even years. If a student has a class with the perpetrator, how is that student expected to thrive academically, let alone survive mentally?
Imagine that you were sexually assaulted and your perpetrator was sitting a few seats down from you in class. Seeing them brings back every memory of what they did to you and how terrible and frightened they made you feel. But you can't do anything about it. You tell college advisors that you can't see them around campus anymore due to the stress and anxiety it's causing you. But they respond that their hands are tied until you file a police report and they finish their investigation.
Approximately 4 out of 5 assaults are committed by someone that the victim knows, and about half of all rapists are either a friend or an acquaintance of the victim. Seeing this person, someone that you knew, go around campus, and walk through life as if everything is normal, when yours is turned upside down is atrocious. You are afraid to go to the police for the fact that only 2 out of every 100 rapists actually serve time and the other 98 will go free, actually terrifies you. What do you have left to do?
So in reality, no, the Safe Campus Act doesn't make people feel safer on campus. A victim has every right to make their own decision about how they want action to be taken. They can decide to go to the police or they can decide to keep it within their campus' authority. They should at least have this choice after their choice over the right to their own body was taken away from them.
However, we not only have to change how sexual assault is being handled, but we also have to change the attitudes of people after sexual assault has happened. Some people find it okay to defend the perpetuator, even after they admitted to committing the assault.
Recently in Alabama, an 18-year-old high school football player, Cameron Harrison, was accused of raping a 16-year-old classmate one night. Harrison was witnessed at the party bragging to classmates that he snuck upstairs while she was passed out. After he was accused with first-degree rape, he admitted to having intercourse with her that night.
The problem with the alleged rape is not the only situation to be addressed, but also the fact that classmates were actually supporting Harrison, who helped his school reach the ranking of sixth overall football team in Alabama. His number was being painted on the back of students' shirts and wrists along with banners that stated, "Doing it 4 my boy Cam".
Meanwhile, the victim was receiving cyber threats and being bullied around school. Rumors went around that she "asked for it" and that "he didn't do it". Someone needs to let these kids know that lying unconscious in a room is not an invitation for sex.
No matter how popular a perpetrator may seem to be, it gives them absolutely no right to rape someone. Students need to realize this. That girl had a lot of courage to bring this case to the authorities. Yet, she is mistreated for trying to seek justice for the injustice that was done to her. The fact that other students, who could have the exact situation happen to them, are not supporting her courageous act and are instead supporting an alleged rapist, is an atrocious representation of the next generation.
Thus, we need to change the talk about sexual assault. We need to create a safer environment where victims can talk about the situation and are unafraid of the consequences that telling someone could entail. We need to create an environment that makes them feel confident that actions can be taken, so that they can feel safe again.
