Being a young person in college, in retrospect, is pretty scary. It’s scary for reasons beyond the schoolwork, finances or the whole balancing act that also generally involves a social life. I feel as though the amount of sex that is not mutually consensual occurs more often than people really know or want to admit to knowing. This happens outside of college, too. But with college, you are literally thrown to the wolves alone.

People who experience living away at college for the first time are also generally people who never lived on their own before. A lot of people don’t feel comfortable talking about their rape, abuse or sexual encounters due to the mere fact that they are afraid of being scrutinized or “slut shamed” for admitting that someone took advantage of them. No means no and if someone is under the influence, they are not able to give consent. This epidemic is definitely not only pertaining to females, either.

Since when did the word "no" become so meaningless? Having to hear some of your closest friends tell you how much they regretted their Friday night is painful. It is not right or fair that people are looked down upon for having a seriously traumatizing experience. It’s unfortunate that some people who are victims of this type of abuse, yes I said abuse, are even accused of lying. It baffles me; rape is abusive. Being taken advantage of is mentally and physically abusive. It harms people’s minds, disrespectful to their bodies, can cause self-image issues and so much more. There is nothing positive that comes out of being taken advantage of. The word ‘no’ needs to regain its original meaning. No means no and it’s as simple as that.

There is a certain level of respect that has depreciated over time. In the 1960s, chivalry was expected; not an option. Now in 2016, I feel as though people just think that sex is some nonchalant thing and that it will not really screw with someone afterwards. Sex should be between two people who actually care or even love each other and should always at least be consensual. I hate how I have to use the word ‘should’, there needs to be some sort of understanding that no means no and yes means yes.

Throughout the most recent decades, I feel that this mentality, that this form of respect, has just slowly been becoming more and more lenient to the point of where our society is today. Guys and girls alike just think it’s okay to be all over someone when the other person obviously is not looking for that. I’m just looking for answers, I think most of us are, as to how it got to this point where ‘no’ is not enough, where kicking and screaming is not a clear indicator that both parties are not interested in the same thing.