Rape on Campus Is the Elephant in the Room
A campus is ideally a safe environment for learning and character development. Yet, of course, safety is compromised when crimes occur, let alone when these crimes become a culture. One of the most provocative is the rape culture, which is rampant in campuses.
On Campus Rape Cases
There are numerous cases and articles on rape victims. In 2014, Rolling Stone published “A Rape on Campus,” which illustrated how a female student of the University of Virginia was raped by fraternity members.
In 2017, a lawsuit was filed against Baylor University’s football players for committing 52 acts of rape for four years. Some cases, however, are focused on victim-blaming. In 2008, Beckett Brennan was raped by three basketball players and, although got justice, was questioned and blamed for her behavior.
In 2017, a group of feminists filed a Title IX lawsuit against the University of Mary Washington for not shutting down the messaging app named Yik Yak, which has gained fame for rape threats and necrophilia. These victim-blaming cases are some of the proofs that the existence of rape culture is being dismissed.
Deriving Anti-Rape Law
Preventing brutal rape from happening in the campus is a worthy endeavor for educational experts, lawmakers, and enforcers. Title IX states that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Lauren McGaughy of Dallas Morning News reveals that “battling sexual assault on college campuses is now a top priority for both Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate.” She also said that “in 2015, Texas passed a law that for the first time required colleges and universities to draw up sexual assault prevention plans and educate students about them.” Senate Bill 576, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, would require school employees and students to report “sexual harassment, sexual assault, family violence or stalking” promptly.
Some programs and organizations aim to educate women and girls to be familiar with men’s behavior. The Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance education program expresses that “calling the program ‘sexual assault resistance’ makes it clear what and who are being resisted.”
Campus Rape Survivors
The documentary The Hunting Ground details that “one in five women in college will be sexually assaulted.” Many have been raped and survived. Some keep themselves in hiding. Some, like Raquel Fatuik, reveal themselves to raise awareness.
To have a closer look and to derive insights on the impact of rape in the psyche of the victim, check out my book Perfect Clarity, which is about four generations of women who were victims of rape. It highlights how empowering legal knowledge is, especially for women. It is a must-read for women that need emancipation from misogyny. Visit my website for more information and to purchase a copy of my book.
References
McGaughy, Lauren. 2017. “Aggressive campus anti-rape laws proposed for Texas colleges in wake of Baylor scandal.” Dallas Morning News. Accessed May 15, 2018.
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