For those of you who are unaware, every week the Lifestyles Center leaves a copy of “Toilet Talk” in each bathroom stall. This single sheet of paper provides information about events on campus, and also addresses many issues that students face while away at school. This week’s issue, titled,“It’s my body, not yours!!!” was especially important for the female student population, because it addressed the issue of sexual assault. It defined sexual assault as “any kind of sexual activity that is unwanted and imposed by one person on another without consent.” And ladies, this is especially true.
Every two minutes, someone is sexually assaulted
in the U.S; one in four women have been victims of sexual assault or rape. Freshman, you may be unaware of this, but last year a campus-wide email was sent out about an encounter in Oneida Hall. A man, or student, in a hooded sweatshirt attempted to sexually assault a young girl. Luckily, she was able to get away and quickly reported the incident. This student was particularly smart because she did not let this go unreported. According to the United States Department of Justice in a COLLEGE survey, only one in twenty five women reported an assault.
Unfortunately, the most common assaults on a college campus are done by a person that the victim already knows. This is referred to as “Acquaintance Rape.” The ‘acquaintance rapist’ will manipulate you and make you feel vulnerable. They seem nice at first, but it may be their way of taking advantage of you. Alcohol and drugs are a leading factor in many rape assaults. These will prevent you from being able to thoroughly defend yourself against your attacker. The rapist may slip something into your drink without your realization, and you could be completely incapable of doing anything; a perfect time to be taken advantage of. There are several drugs known as the “date rape drugs” that have harmful side effects and start affecting the victim between twenty and thirty minutes of ingestion. These drugs are Rohypnol (“roofies”), Gamma Hydrobutate (GHB- “G-juice”), and Ketamine (“special K”). It does not take one of these drugs to be attacked, however.
It is unrealistic for people to tell college students not to drink on campus. However, there are several precautions to take on a night out, or even a night in. The Buddy System. Yes, we have all heard of this during our freshman year orientation, when the slideshow of the drunken penguin tries to take advantage of his peer. Always have a friend with you, especially at night. Walking home alone makes you more vulnerable to anyone who would want to attack you. However, make sure that the friends you are with actually care about your well-being. If a girl ditches you at a party while you pass out, she is probably not best-friend material. Also, if your friend seems too intoxicated, it’s your responsibility to make sure she gets home safely.
Things happen. It is an inevitable part of life. If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone. Although the trauma may be too difficult for some women, it is crucial that if you are prepared to make charges that you follow a few steps. Do not shower/wash away any evidence the perpetrator may have left behind. Do not change your clothes, and do not urinate before being tested for any drugs that may have been slipped into your drink. Seek medical attention ASAP, either at the Campus Health Center or at the local hospital. You would be tested for any infections or STDs, pregnancy, and whatever needs your physical injuries require. They also collect evidence that would help your case against your attacker, if you choose to press charges. If you do not want to press charges, you should still seek professional help and speak to a counselor who could help you cope and move on with your life.
There are many resources that you can use if you or someone you know is a victim of rape. Contact any of these numbers so you don’t go through this alone:
-National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673)
-National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233)
-Counseling Center, located at Mary Walker (315-312-4416)
-Mary Walker Health Center (315-312-4100)
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice, Preventing Violence Against Women,
Washington, D.C., June 1995; 14:77, 78.
National Institute of Justice Centers for Disease Control &
Prevention, Incidence & Consequences of Violence against Women:
Funding from the National Violence Against Women Survey, November
1998.
United States Department of Justice, Violence Against Women: Estimate
from Redesigned Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report,
August 1995.