To say that this past week has been filled with an immense amount of tragedy would be an understatement.
Lives were lost in a shooting where people were simply expressing and celebrating who they really are.
A young star with a beautiful voice sang her last song.
And the rape of a young woman will sadly follow and impact her life forever.
Brock Turner on the other hand will serve a short six-month sentence in a county jail, receive minimal probation, and never be able to swim again.
The victim of Brock Turner’s violent rape-that occurred beside a dumpster and was stopped by two bikers pulling him off of her, has decided to remain anonymous and protect the little bit of power and worth she feels that she has left.
The victim wrote a gut-wrenching letter. Describing her vulnerability. Her worthlessness. How insignificant she felt her own body was. How violated. How powerless. How traumatizing. How if it hadn’t of been her it would’ve been someone else. And allowed her personal letter to be read aloud in court to not just her attacker but also the sentencing judge.
The same judge who sentenced Turner and said that a longer sentence would potentially have a “severe impact” on Brock Turner’s future.
Is that justice in any way? Shouldn’t the victim’s life that was immensely impacted by the violent rape that Brock Turner did, have a little more significance?
Then again, Brock Turner is a young, white, clearly privileged male, currently paying tuition to Stanford, an Ivy League and top ranked college. So yes, a longer/harsher punishment would and should of had a “severe impact” on Brock Turner’s future. As well as Stanford and all colleges.
Just because this was the main headline this week, doesn’t mean that it was the only rape that occurred on a college campus that night.
Rape on college campuses is an epidemic and has been improperly handled for many years. The light, unjustifiable punishment of Brock Turner is sadly the norm for most college rape cases, that is if they even make it to court.
1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college (Fisher).
More than 16 percent of college women are sexually assaulted while in college (Fisher).
88 percent of women who are sexually assaulted on campus do not report (Washington Post).
In 2012, 45 percent of colleges reported zero sexual assaults (Washington Post).
The Hunting Ground a low-budget documentary that came out in early 2015 and is now streaming on Netflix, is a film focusing on rape crimes on college campuses across the U.S., their institutional cover ups, and the devastating toll they take on students and their families.
The facts and statistics as well as stories shown throughout the documentary are astounding.
Victims of sexual assault aren’t receiving the justice that they so rightfully deserve. And frankly it is fucking disgusting.
Another case shouldn’t have to hit headlines for us to wake up and realize that there’s a real epidemic with not only rape on college campuses, but also the injustice that the victims of these horrific crimes are receiving. Statistics aren't just random made up numbers, they're actual, real, frightening facts that we really should know about.
And in-light of recent headlines and the awful injustice of Brock Turner’s assault victim, The Hunting Ground is a documentary every college student, parent, every person really should invest a little time in and see. This is just one victim, one case. The Hunting Ground is an incredible documentary that sheds light on a pretty not-touched upon topic. It informs you, it educates you on the real epidemic of sexual assaults that are occurring around us on college campuses.
With all the tragedy in the world right now, it’s really hard to see any silver linings. Who knows the world may possible be coming to an end soon, juries really out on that one…? But there is something we can do that in my opinion that can counteract evil.
Knowledge.
Being informed.
Knowledge really is the greatest form of power.
The more informed we are, the more we can prevent things, which leads to a higher possibility of it potentially stopping, and maybe one day that's the justice we'll finally get.
My heart goes out to all the victims in the world right now. Don’t lose sight of your hope. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is the key.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/heres-the-po...
http://www.thehuntinggroundfilm.comc
