"You tell me it gets better, it gets better, in time. You say I'll pull myself together, pull it together, you'll be fine." -excerpt of Lady Gaga's "Till It Happens To You"
Being a college student, we always hear about the terrible stories of sexual assault. Sadly, many people don't realize how much it occurs on college campuses. One in five female students will be sexually assaulted this year. When you think about the big picture, that's a lot of cases. To make it even worse, 68% of sexual assault cases will never be reported. The worst fact is that 98% of rapists will never spend a day in jail.
Honestly, you would think that in this day and age people would understand that no means no. A big problem with this is that people are afraid to speak up. Common feelings can be the sensation of worthlessness. The victim can feel like it was their fault. The thing is that it is never the victim's fault. The problem is that the "victim" is afraid to speak out for fear of themselves. Ignoring what happened can be easier than facing what happened.
Another thing is that people say they know how the "victim" feels, but they really don't. It's such a traumatic thing that you can only understand if it happens to you.
As a well-rounded generation, we need to tackle on the problem of sexual assault. We can't look the other way when these things are happening. Sexual assault is easily prevented if someone steps in. Even basic things such as collecting your friends at the end of the night can make a huge difference. In conclusion, sexual assault is something that needs more attention to be fought effectively. Just remember, that it is never your fault that it happened. The person who assaulted you was a coward and took advantage of you. Seek the help you need. Stop trying to numb the pain. Reach out and speak about it. It will not only help you, but it will bring the justice you deserve.
