With sluggish movements, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fight off your assailant. Though your words are slurring, you still say no, but he does not care. Any unlawful sexual intercourse or penetration of any kind, without the consent of the victim, is defined as rape (“Rape” 1). Since the age of fourteen, it has been estimated that twenty-five percent of college women have been victims of attempted rape or actual victims of rape (Sampson 1). One study shows that over forty percent of rape victims did not report their attack because they were afraid of repercussions from their attacker or from others (1). The world’s view on this epidemic needs to change; and it needs to be understood that victims of rape should not be afraid of reporting what has happened to them because of what others might say or do, and it also needs to be understood that no means no.
History
While rape itself has been an ever present problem in the world, rape on college campuses has been steadily increasing within the past fifty years (Zimmerman 1). One of the first times sexual assault on college campuses really came to the public’s eye, was in 1957, when a study on the matter entitled, “ Male Sex Aggression on a University Campus,” by sociologist Eugene Kanin was published (Kamenetz 1). In this study, Kanin put forth the argument that men were using “secrecy and stigma” to not only pressure women, but to also exploit them (1). A near two decades later, in 1975, the term “date rape” is coined by Susan Brownmiller, in reference to rape in the dating situations (Zimmerman 1). This term is seen again ten years later, in 1985, when one of the largest scientific studies is conducted on “date rape” (1). Put on by MS Magazine and Mary R. Koss, a professor at Kent University, this study revealed that one in four women had had an experience of rape or attempted rape (1). This study not only showed how many women are truly affected by campus rape, but it also provided the first media coverage of this epidemic (Heldman 1). This study also provided the basis for the book “I Never Called it Rape,” which is filled with people’s personal, first-hand accounts of their sexual assaults (Zimmerman 1). This book gave those, who were sexually assaulted, a way to share their story, and a platform to speak against rape.
With the determination of many women’s groups and the help of many studies, the passageway was culminated for the “Violence Against Women Acts,” which was passed in 1994 (Heldman 1). This was the first law that made it a requirement for law enforcement to treat gender violence as an actual crime, rather than just a private family matter (1). With the help of the media, the issue of rape on college campuses is becoming a more known topic. Within the past five years, news stations and documentary TV shows have been increasingly broadcasting reports and stories about such incidents (Zimmerman 1). Not only are the incidents of rape being brought up more, but they are also beginning to be dealt with. In 2011, a Yale fraternity was suspended for having their pledges march through campus chanting “No means yes, yes means anal,” and for carrying a sign that read “We love Yale sluts” (1). In 2016, Baylor University fires the head football coach and removes the school’s president, after an investigation uncovers that the university mishandled accusations of sexual assault against some football players (1). While people are becoming more aware on the subject of rape on college campuses and assailants of such crimes are beginning to be dealt with, there is still much more that needs to be done.
Causes
There are several causes for rape on college campuses. The first being, the lack of discipline towards perpetrators. This cause can not only be seen in the justice system today, but it can also be seen on college campuses themselves today. College officials can often be found mishandeling the accusations, or can be found “holding back” on the punishments the assailants receive. In 2016, Baylor University’s football coach was fired and the president of the school was removed from his position, after an investigation discovered that the university mishandled accusations of sexual assault against some football players (Tracy 1). According to a law firm, commissioned by the university’s governing board, these men “looked the other way” when Baylor football players were accused of sexual assault, or were actually sometimes convicted of it (1). In another incident, the University of Virginia has not expelled any students for sexual misconduct in the past decade (Anderson 1). The University of Virginia has dismissed dozens of students for academic cheating in recent years, but yet none for sexual assault (1). How are students able to feel safe on campuses and not be afraid of reporting being sexually assaulted, when the campuses themselves are turning a “blind eye” and are not serving justice.
The same can be said for the justice system today. In 2015, a Florida state student, Erica Kinsman, filed a lawsuit against Jameis Winston, the star quarterback for Florida Sate, for rape (Tracy 1). However, Winston was never questioned by the Tallahassee Police Department and prosecutors ultimately declined charges against him, because he said the encounter had been consensual (1). When the justice system serves a punishment, if it serves one at all, it is usually seen by many as being inadequate with the crime. In 2016, a former Stanford University student was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, and only received six months in jail (Zimmerman 1). The sentence was seen by many as being too lenient. The San Jose Mercury News took to calling the sentence “ a slap on the wrist” (1). Jeff Rosen, the district attorney, makes this very important statement regarding the case, “The punishment does not fit the crime. Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape. Rape is rape” (1). Students should not have to live in fear of there being no justice served for a crime that is committed against them.
The second cause of rape on college campuses, is a result of the above cause: the lack of fear perpetrators have of being punished. As seen above, the assailants of these crimes are, majority of the time, able to walk away “unscathed” or almost “unscathed.” For example, at Virginia Wesleyan College, a male student found responsible for engaging in a sexual activity with a female student against her will, was being dismissed from the school (Anderson 1). However a few months later, the school decided to soften the punishment, and classify the man’s exit as a withdrawal (1). It has been found that about ninety percent of college rapes are committed by a relatively small group of men, who rape repeatedly (Rubenfeld 1). This being said, there seems so clearly to be no punishments being given out for these crimes. Therefore, why should perpetrators be afraid of committing these crimes, when there is no guarantee of being punished or the punishment is “light.”
Effects On Society
Rape on college campuses effects society on a nation-wide to world-wide scale. If the perpetrators of these crimes are able to get away with them, what is stopping them from committing more crimes? If college campuses and the justice system are fine with allowing this crime to continue on, they should be just fine with any other crimes continuing on (Rubenfeld 1). Society’s view on rape may also begin to sway, if things do not begin to change. If rape on college campuses is continued to be seen and treated as a completely different matter than just rape, who’s to decide what rape really is (Zimmerman 1)? Rape is rape; whether it be on a college campus or not. The fact of the matter is, is that criminals need to be punished for what they do, and society needs to quit “turning a blind eye” to the crimes that are being committed.
Examples
Erin McCamley was raped her freshman year of college (“Erin McCamley” 1). She then proceeded to go through a “grueling and terrible” nine month investigation (1). McCamley makes these statements on how the rape and trial affected her:
The rape itself was traumatic of course, but the trial process afterward is what shattered my life and will affect me negatively as long as I live. It taught me that the college cared more about their reputation and sweeping things under the rug than about me; that my body and PTSD were worthless and unimportant; that even when a victim has the courage to step forward and report what happened to them (which is rare), they will suffer worse treatment than if they had just kept quiet; that our culture is filled to the brim with rape apologists who perpetuate rape culture, and that because of them, rape will continue shattering lives–because while the rapists are the only ones to blame for the rape, the rape apologists are the ones to blame for the continuing cycle of rape. Without consequences for the action, why on earth would the action stop? (“Erin McCamley”)
McCamley believes that society “shields and protects” rapists, and only punishes them for “ten seconds” (1). Erin McCamley stands firm in her belief that, because we are society, to be able to change it, we must be able to change ourselves (1).
The documentary, “The Hunting Ground,” is filled with many people recounting their sexual assaults on their college campuses, and the injustice many of them faced from such colleges (Dargis 1). Many people have said that anyone who is heading off to college should watch this documentary (1). How “raw” and real this documentary is, really “hits” people in the gut. While at times, it may be sad and hard to watch, the message it stands for is very important. It shows how the victims of these crimes did not stay victims, they became survivors (1). These survivors are now sharing their stories in this documentary, so that society can become more aware of what really is going on at college campuses (1).
Solutions
While there is no ultimate solution to stop rape on college campuses, there are a few solutions that can help reduce the number of incidents. The first solution being that college campuses need to have a sexual harassment policy. These policies would then contain “guidelines” of what is and is not consent, all the different forms of sexual harassment, and the exact rules and proceedings to follow when an incident occurs (“Solutions for Sexual Assault…” 1). Having such policies will not only ensure that the school will handle any cases that come to them, but it will also ensure that the victims can receive justice. Some schools are actually already following such policies. One of these policies, Title IX, requires colleges to let students pursue their educations without fear of sexual discrimination, such as sexual harassment and incidents of sexual violence (Culp-Ressler 1). In seeing that Title IX is also a survivor-led group, it is clearly understood that the victims of sexual assault crimes, are the most important factor to be looked after (1). Not only would the colleges benefit from having such policies, but so would the victims.
The second solution for ending rape on college campuses is bringing in rape awareness programs for the students and faculty. One of these programs, called “Yes Means Yes,” places emphasises on the matter of how it is not okay to have any sexual relations with anyone unless they clearly say yes (Geggel 1). For instance, the example of one only petting a kitten if the kitten wants to be petted, is used to help people grasp a “clearer picture” of what the program means (1). There are also other programs that focus on the men of college campuses, and the fact they need not to harass other students on campus, but that they can also stop situations from happening by standing up to anyone planning an assault (1). These programs cannot only help bring awareness to rape on college campuses, but then can also help better protect the students on campus.
While both solutions are helpful on the college campuses, the best solution seems to be having college campuses provide rape awareness programs. These programs can make both women and men aware of how to better protect themselves and how to prevent such assaults from happening. In 2015, a study in the “New England Journal of Medicine,” showed that ten percent of women, who were given brochures about preventing sexual harassment, reported that they had been raped; while in a group of women, who participated in a rape awareness program, only five percent of them reported being raped (Geggel 1). While having the policies can ensure that something will be done when an incident is reported, the programs have the more likely possibility of preventing attacks before they happen. Even though there are many helpful solutions to rape on college campuses, it remains the fact of having colleges actually put them into place.
Absurdity and the Plague
Albert Camus often brought the philosophical problem of what is the meaning of existence into his novels, essays, and plays; although, the philosophical problem that plagued him the most was suicide (“Camus and Absurdity” 1). Camus often questioned if suicide was the answer to the absurdity that is life (1). If one has the view of there being no purpose in life, then they may question what the point of continuing to live it is. These beliefs may be what victims of sexual assault begin to question also, after they are attacked. After such a critical event, such as rape, has happened to a person, they may question the point of their lives, in turn, leading them to contemplate taking their own lives in the form of suicide.
If faced with the absurdity of rape on college campuses today, Albert Camus would be distraught. Having no religious faith or answer to what the meaning of life is, Camus would have no understanding to turn to, to help him comprehend why such horrible things were happening to people (Aronson 1). Camus would see people’s questioning of whether to continue to living or not, as a “natural response” to such a tragic event (1). Camus would find pleasure in how people question the authorities over them, when faced the injustice they receive concerning rape on college campuses (“Albert Camus’ Religion…” 1). Being an anarchist, Camus would see corruption and self-serving characteristics in the power structures of some universities and law enforcements, when they protect the students who are accused of sexual harassment (1). As Albert Camus believed in equality, he would want to see to it that victims of rape on college campuses received the same amount of justice as victims of any other kind of rape receive.
Conclusion
Since the age of fourteen, it has been estimated that twenty-five percent of college women have been victims of attempted rape or actual victims of rape (Sampson 1). This is an epidemic that needs to meet it’s end. The world’s view on this epidemic needs to change; and it needs to be understood that victims of rape should not be afraid of reporting what has happened to them because of what others might say or do, and it also needs to be understood that no means no. When a person is murdered, justice is sought out for the victim with determination and drive, as it would be in any crime. Therefore, the same drive and determination should also be present in seeking justice for the victims of rape on college campuses. The world needs to make a stand against this epidemic, and it can start with one college campus at a time.
Works Cited
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