Everyone always says that you'll never know what it is like until it happens to you. This is beyond true when it comes to sexual assault. One in four female college students experience a form of sexual assault while on campus, according to a recent New York Times article. The severity of sexual assault on college campuses is skyrocketing. It is not only women who are in danger because anyone can be a victim of sexual assault.
A Fox News report documented four recent cases of sexual assault on American college campuses. The results of the cases were unimaginable. Each male targeted by the female victim was found innocent through the campus investigation. Following these outcomes, each victim went to a state police department resulting in each male, except for one, to be found guilty of sexual assault/harassment.
There is a building trend in many of today's sexual assault cases and that is a lack of justice for each party involved. In a majority of sexual assault incidents, there is alcohol and/or drugs involved. This is generally the saving grace for the perpetrator as it allows for no solid evidence to prove an assault has happened. As for the victim, the situation is more complex. A victim of an assault will generally seek guidance and support. At a college campus, advisors are meant to give emotional care and advice. In many cases, the victims believe they have in fact been assaulted, and go to the next level which is a complaint with the state police department.
The issue here is within the system. In 2011, a letter was created by the U.S. Department of Civil Rights to defend the Title IX education amendments. This letter has created stricter boundaries for American campuses, causing advisors to take full precaution and push for an investigation whenever an assault-like complaint is brought to their attention. As members of society, we would like to think that we are safe under these documents. As much as they can help us, they can hurt us as well.
We will never know how the system truly works until it happens to us. Will a drunken night turn into a mistake, and end up in a sexual assault investigation? Will you be the victim or the perpetrator? The choice is yours. With all of the countless cases of campus sexual assaults, causing a 'rape epidemic,' it is only up to you to become aware.
There are so many ways to get educated. Read news articles and know your rights. Become familiar with Columbia alum, Emma Sulkowicz, who spearheaded "Carry that Weight", a campaign in which she carried around her dorm mattress as a way to fight back against sexual assault. Get to know "Yes Means Yes," a state by state agreement against sexual assault, and "Its on Us," a sexual assault toolkit.
Emma Sulkowicz carrying her mattress around campus as a part of her campaign.
Sitting back and saying, "that will never be me" is just as bad as being the bystander that let an assault happen. Get up, stand up, and be a part of the many movements against sexual assault. Take the pledge, be aware, and party smart.
