Dear ladies,

What do I even say to you? How is it that you are so against protecting yourselves? How can you be actively fighting against something that can only help you?

I know that it is hard to accept that we live in a world where we need to teach people not to assault other people. And yes, it is stupid that we have to do that. I think that, at least, should be understood. But things happen, and choices are made, and sexual assault happens. Rape happens. And it can happen to you.

Rape especially happens on college campuses, to college students, of which I am one. So why would I want the people around me to be uneducated about assault, just because I don't want to wake up at 10 am on a Saturday or I don't want to have to spend a couple of hours without my boyfriend while he learns what consent is. Yeah, it may be inconvenient for your hungover self to have to wake up early, but do you know what's really inconvenient? The long-lasting emotional and physical trauma of being assaulted.

Assault is usually not cut and dry. When it's dark, people are intoxicated, and relationships are in place, assault can be confusing and messy. What qualifies as assault? Was that consensual? How do I know if I have been assaulted? All of these questions can be answered in sexual assault training! Almost every case I've personally encountered has been so complicated. Usually, the person will be someone you know. You could have ruined someone's life and not even know or remember it, because you don't realize that to the other person, it was assault. You took something from them that they can never get back, and you were uneducated, so you didn't even realize it.

And yes, you may be more "woke" or aware than the average person, so you may not think you need sexual assault training, but some people around you do, and it never hurts to brush up on the specific resources available or new strategies to protect yourself and those around you.

So grow up, please. Stop whining about how fraternities shouldn't have to go to assault training because now your boyfriend can't have dinner with you because he's learning how to be a better human being. Stop complaining because you have to wake up a couple hours earlier on a weekend to learn how to potentially save your life. Also, be careful who you complain around, because chances are you know someone who has been assaulted. They probably haven't told you about it because you're the kind of person who thinks sexual assault training is stupid.

Reevaluate yourself please,

Erin, an assault victim.