About 10 million people in college are victimized by sexual assault. Some don’t realize that it can happen to anyone at any time regardless of age or gender.
According to a 2018 survey done by Stop Street Harassment, 81% of women and 43% of men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. The nature of the sexual assault is so heinous and putridbecause of the effect it has on its victims. A victim of sexual assault will live with feelings of disgust and memories of the attack for their entire lives. That’s what makes rape so disturbing. What can people in college, or in general, do about this epidemic?
For starters, we can educate ourselves on consent. Consent is when all parties agree to a sexual act, but keep in mind that just because someone agrees to one act, does not mean they consent to anything in the future. Verbal communication is the best form of consent. There are many forms of the act, and it is easy to recognize when it occurs. Any unwanted sexual touching or penetration is considered sexual assault.
Often times sexual assault on campuses happens at parties where drugs and alcohol are involved. This can lead to an assault on people who are passed out or in a state of mind where they are unable to make decisions.
What should one do if they see something suspicious at a party or somewhere else? There are a lot of ways to take control. Tell the person of interest that what they’re doing isn’t right. If they don’t see a problem with their actions, then distract them by trying to lead them away. Sometimes, the best thing to do is directly intervene in the situation. Let the person know what they are doing is not okay. Use the disappointed mom tone and say, “I thought you knew better than that ... .”
If all else fails, gather around others and alert the police as soon as possible. If there are multiple witnesses, the assailant is unlikely to continue. There is power in numbers and may help prevent the crime until authorities arrive. Finally, be a friend to the victim. Offer the person a shoulder to lean on. Remember that they have just been traumatized and are in need of comfort.
As a young girl, a safety tip my mother taught me was to yell fire instead of rape because people are more likely to run for help. It is sad that we have to learn these little lessons in order to defend ourselves, but that is our reality.
Ways to stay safe include walking with a key between fingers, staying in groups at night and hanging out with familiar people. If separation occurs during the night, be sure to check-in regularly with one another to ensure the safety of friends.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, more than 90% of sexual assault victims in college do not report the crime. If nothing is said about these crimes, nothing will ever get done. Yes, it is scary and difficult, but saying something may save someone else from being a victim.
Unfortunately, this crime is not something that we can stop. In fact, studies show that the problem is getting worse. Statistics are rising as more people start to come out with their stories. Sexual assault or rape is a nasty part of the world we live in today. Feel uncomfortable talking about this subject? Imagine how the victims feel. Stop sexual assault.
**If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, call the national sexual assault hotline 1-800- 656-HOPE
Efforts were made to reach out to several Bismarck State College Personnel but one didn’t respond and others refused to comment.
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