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Susie Seidel

+English II

Holland

20 February 2018

For Our Daughters

Your little girl has endured countless struggles in and out of the classroom. From that

awful anatomy teacher, to her feelings of emptiness and frustration in the walls of high school, it

is time for a new purpose and fresh starts. You think that radiant smile will gain permanence on

her youthful face as she waves goodbye, embarking on her well awaited and greatly deserved

college journey. Wasn’t it just yesterday she was crying for dada? Only, three months have

passed; her is car once again parked in the driveway, and her smile, along with her aspirations

have been shattered.1 Her cries concern something much bigger than ‘dada’ can comprehend

as reality hits you hard: your daughter had been raped, and she is never setting foot on that

campus again.2

The same envisioned success stories of one in five college students are replaced by

similar testimonies of violation, fear and inequality (RAINN). The pleas for, and attainment of

awareness in regards to the issue picked up speed in 2015 during the rape trial of Stanford

student Brock Turner. Despite proven accusations of the sexual penetration of an unconscious

female behind a dumpster, Turner claimed innocence by intoxication and was granted an early

release for good behavior (Andone). Outrage towards the irresponsibility of Stanford and police

left advocates for an end to campus violence with a restricted faith in justice. In addition to

potential failures by college campus court rooms and those of state and federal, twenty percent

of assaults on campus are not reported, but are in occurance (RAINN). The current system is

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failing; it’s time to combat the issue instead of suppressing it.3 The scrutinized issue of sexual

assault on college campuses has only worsened as proposed solutions advocate the

involvement of uneducated, and unequipped individuals seeking wealth, or systems not built to

be in compliance with the necessary demands of victims. Strides toward prevention can be

made federally and in the local laws of campus by implementing education for all on individuals

as it has been proven to be the most effective, and avoids bias and complications that follow

assaults.

The current code of conducts set in the procedures of campuses keep the repercussions

of indictments under the control of the college. This is believed to prevent discrimination and

bias; therefore, each student would be provided equal educational opportunities in lesser

compliance with the complications of the criminal justice system (Brodsky and Deutsch).4

However, this grants colleges unequipped with the knowledge of the pursuance of these cases

the ability to ignore the laws of justice in order to best benefit from the incident. For example,

there is a greater desire to exonerate wealthy students in order for the college to continue

profiting (Lowe). As there stands a common knowledge of colleges accepting out of state

students to obtain the greater profit of tuition, the handling of sexual assault cases would occur

among similar lines. Money should not hold a role in the decision of innocence or guilt, nor have

the opportunity to, as it only perpetuates the thought removed bias. Furthermore, a former dean

of communications and present columnist at Syracuse University noted that due to greedy

motivations and inexperienced members on academic integrity cases, there have been

questionable outcomes in said cases (Rubin 88). While many boards of schools include

reputable individuals, cases concerning sexual assault should be considered out of educators’

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jurisdiction. The panel deciding if a paper contains the same paragraph as Wikipedia should not

hold the decision of whether a student is guilty of sexual assault.

In response to the inadequacy of the role of colleges in sexual assault cases, many

believe the police should be solely responsible in the aftermath of the incident. Rubin argues the

efficiency of handling sexual violence cases is increased by the criminal justice system; the

police, equipped with resources; prosecutors, with experience (88).5 While Rubin acknowledges

the illegitimacy of college courts, his proposal sparingly presents major improvements.

Changing the settings of a court does not mean a change in the verdicts. Sexual assault on

campus is extremely difficult in the terms of grounds for indictment. Specifically, a Florida

college student presented confessional texts and recorded conversations by her perpetrator.

Even so, law enforcement denied action by lack of physical evidence and witness account, and

accused the student of ‘flirting’ with the perpetrator by contacting him after the assault (Heldman

and Brown 94). This account is one of many variations of the ‘poster’ assault. This would

typically involve two individuals, alone or surrounded by incompetent peers, under the influence

of drugs and alcohol, evidence manipulated to have followed a consensual act, lots of confusion

and very little time to react. What does not hold a part in this equation are reliable witnesses,

sense of awareness and the ability to recall necessary details that would serve as proof of a

crime. The haze of details and uncertainty creates a remarkable reasonable doubt and could not

withstand trial. The system fails, as it’s processes are not in compliance with faced

circumstances. Beyond the logistics of convictions, the justice system and police work has failed

victims countless times under other precedents. This is proven in the Brock Turner trial, in which

CNN​ reports Turner appealed his conviction under claims it was unfair, and was released from

prison after only three months for good behavior. This comes from after two witnesses identified

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him as raping an unconscious woman behind a dumpster (Andone). The lack of capability to

enforce legal punishment by no way means sexual assault is not a prevalent issue, just as the

release of Turner does not assure his innocence. This simply means, a new approach must be

initiated in stopping assaults from actually happening. Implementing education in order to lessen

the injustice related to consequences will ultimately provide the greatest results.

However, despite the statistically proven effective efforts education as a form of

prevention has had, the solution still faces criticism of morality. The success of bystander

prevention programs has decreased sexual violence on campus by 21% as latest reported

(Alteristic). Despite proven effects, the issue of the program in correlation with the degradation

and victimization of women remains. It is believed that educating women is unfair, for the blame

of assaults is placed upon them and not the perpetrators (Geggel). Women should not be held

accountable for the assaults they were forced victim too. However, it is imperative to be realistic

reflecting upon societal culture, one that does place pressure on women to acquire awareness

concerning safety. As much as one would hope to live in a perfect world where there are zero

prejudices against a group of people, these thoughts are ignorant, and society must adapt to

initiate change on a smaller scale while greater change is in the works.6 So far, if educational

programs are working, they should be bettered and carried out to full potential to later play a

role of eliminating sexual assault in the world.

Likewise, despite the prevalence of sexual violence on campus, ignorance remains in

regards to the severity of dangers women face. By initiating education for all college students

would produce the most significant results and continue to reflect progress in the decrease in

assaults statistically. A study conducted by The New England Journal of Medicine trained

women to acknowledge and defend against sexual advances. This training consisted of four

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three hour sessions of provided skills and self defense, and proved to reduce the risk of women

becoming victims to sexual assault by 50% (Healy). By eliminating the fear and ignorance

young women hold towards the menacing chance of assault consistently impacting everyday

campus life, women are inspired to discard their fear and join the defense against violence. With

this motivation, engagement would further expand upon the conversation regarding equality in

social, economic and racial deficiencies in society (Dills 14). In contrast to thought degradation,

this implements empowerment and a united coalition among college females. As women begin

to develop this integrated voice, the less danger they face of it being silenced.

Not only should the raised awareness of women be promoted, but also for young men

on college campuses, education in regards to respect will be vital in prevention.7 Condoning the

chant on SMU campuses, ​"SMU boys, we like them young. Y is for your sister. O is for oh so

tight. U is for underage. N is for no consent. G is for grab that ass," as tradition isn’t cutting it for

suppressing the thought precedent of male superiority on campus (Williams). How long will this

disrespect be brushed aside?8 Education such as the Green Dot Program answers, no longer.

This system, and variations of those similar to it, educate college students on how to properly

intervene in situations thought to result in a regretted outcome and promote a unified community

on campus, but also as students progress in to the workplace and life in general. Men have

claimed to better protect campus women, and have felt greater confidence and purpose by

eliminating the chance of assault before the opportunity of it to happen (Kingkade). By

transforming the enemy in to allies, the likelihood of fraternity men committing sexual assault

has decreased by 40% (Kingkade). What men have previously gotten away with for so long,

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shall not be tolerated, and instead of fighting against them, this battle must be fought with them.

E is for enough is enough.9 That is what should be chanted by every individual on campus.

Therefore, to perpetuate educational programs’ success, requirements should be put in

to law. Steps towards legal intervention were made by the Obama administration, specifically by

Vice President Joe Biden in his launch of the “It’s on Us” campaign. This has become a great

movement, and specifically, a proposed legislation in Pennsylvania. This would include means

of reporting sexual assault made easier by establishing various reporting options, and creation

of a consolidating, comprehensive, anti-violence education for schools K-12 (Tatum). This

education has emphasized avoidance and warning signs of assault, and that victims should not

feel at fault for what has happened to them in accordance to the accounts of Pennsylvania

students (Soffer). What Biden and the legislators in Pennsylvania have initiated reflects the

opportunity of a shift in societal norms. With an intoleration of assault supported by informed

men and women on campus, backed by the nation and its states, culture is directly transformed.

As long as legislators possess the authority and legal power to initiate change, why not expedite

the progress towards education leading elimination? Instead of contributing the continuity of

assault with the support of a President condoning grabbing women by the genitalia, those with

political power should condone blatant respect and change. This can be further promoted by

any passionate individual with the capability to contact their legislators and present them with

the opportunity of a safer environment. This further implicates how awareness is a catalyst, and

is necessary for any results.

You should not have to send your little girl off to college with the insecurity and pressure

of walking down the street of her campus day or night, clenching pepper spray in fear of

becoming another statistic. However, by equipping her instead with the proper knowledge and

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proper alliances in constant reach, her personal strength will likewise burn a perpetrator. By

transcending past the era of corrupt justice, victimized women, and scoffing men shaking their

heads at the fact of how easy it was to get away with it, the community of the college campus

will therefore see a unity greater than any crowd at a football game. There will be courageous,

comfortable women; men will rise as knowledgeable; people will fight together.10 There will exist

a unity of an all knowing resistance to the wrong doings in our society that has gone on long

enough. Together, the world can be made a better place. Therefore, the imperative moment will

have arrived as your daughter pulls her car into reverse and backs out of the chapter of life

where she was constantly protected. You can trust your little girl will be safe, and better yet, so

incredibly successful as she prepares for all future endeavors.

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Works Cited

Alteristic. “Progress.” ​Alteristic,​ Alteristic, 9 Feb. 2018.

Andone, Dakin. “Brock Turner, Convicted of Sexual Assault, Asks for New Trial.” ​CNN​, Cable

News Network, 2 Dec. 2017.

Brodsky, Alexandra, and Elizabeth Deutsch. “The Promise of Title IX: Sexual Violence and the

Law.” ​Dissent Magazine, ​2015.

Brown, Baillee and Caroline Heldman. ¨Campus Rape: Why Colleges Won’t Address Rape

Culture.” ​Sexual Assault on Campus, ​2016.

Dills, Jenny, et al. “Evaluating Prevention Efforts.” ​Sexual Violence on Campus: Strategies for

Prevention,​ Nov. 2016. ​Division of Violence Prevention​, Centers for Disease Control.

Geggel, Laura. “The Science of Preventing Sexual Assaults on College Campuses.”

LiveScience​, Purch, 5 July 2016.

Healy, Melissa. “Sexual Assault Prevention Program Cuts Risk of Rape Nearly 50%, Study

Says.” ​Los Angeles Times​, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2015.

Kingkade, Tyler. “This Is Why Every College Is Talking About Bystander Intervention.” ​The

Huffington Post,​ TheHuffingtonPost.com, 8 Feb. 2016

Lowe, Tiana. “Dear Betsy: End the Kafkaesque Kangaroo Courts of Title IX.” ​National Review​,

National Review, 24 July 2017.

RAINN. “Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics.” ​Campus Sexual Violence | RAINN,​ Rape, Abuse

and Incest National Network.

Rubin, David M. “Campus Sexual Assault Cases Should Be Handled by Police.” ​Sexual Assault

on Campus,​ 2016.

Soffer, Sari. “'It's On Us' Legislation Aims to Stop Sexual Violence.” ​ABC27,​ 6 Sept. 2017.

Tatum, Sophie. “'New Challenges' on Campus Assault.” ​CNN,​ Cable News Network, 2017.