Depression by Regan Broussard

Do you ever feel a sudden wave of sadness? Lose your will to get anything done? Or even become so lost in your own thoughts you become overwhelmed and just shut everything out? Anxiety and depression are two of the most common disorders in today’s world. Depression is a mental health disorder that confirms having a frequent change in high and low mood swings, complete distaste in engaging in any daily activity that life has to offer, which often interferes with the way they socialize throughout society (National Institute of Mental Health: Depression). Anxiety is the intense and excessive stress in normal everyday life situations. You’re always worried and it can become so severe that it consumes you and can also interfere with your daily life. These epidemics are important because they are a huge factor in the rise of suicide in the United States (Teen Suicide). Depression and anxiety may cause one to feel trapped in their own problems, which leads the individual to believe that they only have one way out of their misery. To reduce the effects of depression and anxiety, we should be more proactive about it. It should take the first onset of these epidemics, whether it is talking about it, or being medicated, to provide urgency to get help. We should not just let the epidemic grow inside of an individual because it’ll spread like a wildfire. Also, being vulnerable enough as the person with depression and anxiety, to express everything you’ve gone through which may have affected you in a traumatizing way, will also be helpful. When you know the symptoms, and your “norm” you’re already one step ahead. Depression especially is difficult to understand, but getting a hold on it before it becomes worse could save lives.

The origin of depression dates back to the beginning of time. Depression is said to have been around since second millennium B.C in Mesopotamia. The townsfolk believed that depression was not a physical disorder, but rather, a spiritual one. They thought that this disorder was brought on by evil, demonic entities. Therefore, a priest was called on, instead of a doctor, to relieve individuals from the demonic possession. This belief of demons existed in many cultures like ancient Greeks, Romans, Babylonians, etc,. Beatings and starvation were few of the harsh tactics used to rid the “sickened” individuals of the disease. Amongst the naive cultures who believed such a disease was demonic, only the Greeks and The Romans had physicians who thought otherwise. They thought that depression was a biological and psychological illness, which led them to adapt to more soothing and calming methods to deal with depression. (gymnastics, massages, diets, music, etc.) A Greek physician named Hippocrates made the educated guess of thinking that depression was caused by the imbalance of four body fluids. Yellow bile, black bile, phlegm and blood. His way of treating depression was through blood letting, baths, exercise and diet. The Roman philosopher, Ciero, believed that depression was caused by psychological things such as rage, grief and fear. During the 19th and 20th century, people were desperate to obtain a  hold on their lives due to the harsh effects of the disease, that they decided to get lobotomies. This treatment was intended to provide relief because the frontal lobe was destroyed in the surgery, but instead, this “treatment” caused personality changes, loss of appetite, inability to make decisions, and sometimes death. The 1950s became a significant time period for the aid in depression because Isoniazid was discovered, which caused some relief in people with depression. Then, more drugs that helped with the treatment of depression was founded/created. It is said that even today, depression derives from a combination of many causes, biological, psychological and even social factors, like grief. The causes of depression are still more difficult to understand even today, we may not ever fully understand where and why depression is so consuming. (The History of Depression)

Depression interferes with the social lives of millions (approximately 350 million people worldwide) on the daily. Depression has the power to strip away your will to socialize, which makes you become withdrawn and antisocial. This disease is extremely common and symptoms are similar amongst all regions of the world (Depression: Medical News Today). Some of your favorite celebrities battle depression like Demi Lovato, Channing Tatum, Ellen DeGeneres,etc (30 Famous People Today who have battled Depression). Unfortunately, depression is the cause of some suicides, substance use and abuse, social and family withdrawal and decreased motivation to do school/work activities. The most serious effect of these is suicide attempt/completion (15% of these individuals successfully end their lives due to the disease). Likewise, depression can become present in women postpartum, that is up to 20% of women. This can lead to fewer birth rates, and earlier deliveries. Babies who are born to a depressed mother are more likely to experience symptoms as well. They tend to be more agitated, show less enthusiasm during activities, show less attentiveness and lack expression all around. This alone puts a strain on the baby/mother bond after birth (Effects of Depression: Physical, Social effects of depression).

The effects of depression are very draining, and sadly, can lead you to think/do things you’d never imagine doing. Depression can definitely steer you away from your “normal”. For example, this past summer I faced depression due to a heartbreak. I didn’t know how to cope so I handled my emotions in a very unhealthy way. I wouldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep at night, let alone get up in the morning, I had no desire. I have always been a bubbly personality and a light in most situations, so that was not normal for me and so many of those who loved me could see that. I had completely no will to spend time with my loved ones, or even let out a laugh like I am very capable of doing. I had become very oblivious to the world and the people around me. Nothing had my full attention, i just wanted to exclude myself from everything that was going on around me. All I wanted to do was lay in bed, in the dark. I had experienced major weight loss because I was extremely unhappy. My parents were so worried that they were starting considering getting professional help of some sort. I had completely lost myself in the midst of my emotions. Going through that extreme low made me feel like there was no way possible to cease the pain I was feeling. I wholeheartedly believed there was no way out and that I’d feel that way forever. Luckily I had my family, school and cheer to pull me out of that slum and slowly get me back to my old self that I missed. The experience that lead me to that depressive state was honestly my first emotionally traumatizing situation and I had no clue how to conduct myself, therefore, my answer was to bask in my deepest emotions. That’s the power of depression. Another example is this interview I read regarding a 19 year old girl named Sarah, who expressed her experience with battling depression, hence the fact that it is genetically mutual in her family. She talked about her unwillingness to be social with her friends/family, and her constant emotion of having no real purpose in life. She shared the impact that depression had on her relationships. She tried not to tarnish any of them (fortunately she maintained them), she only became distant during her lows. Sarah shared her journey of finding the perfect physician and the perfect medications that worked for her. She encourages everyone who goes through depression to not give up, but instead to keep searching until you find the best one for you. I believe it is important that Sarah was brave enough to express her thoughts of suicide. That goes to show the correlation that depression and suicide share. Instead of bing ashamed, i think this should provide a little comfort for us as people. We are not alone, people fight some of the same battles everyday and it is humanity’s job to help each other get through the hardest times.

    Studies show that depression symptoms can be reduced if the patient begins to take medications called antidepressants. These drugs help alter one’s mood due to it affectance of brain chemicals. There are many types of medications doctors could prescribe, like SRNI (serotonin and norepinephrine inhibitors) , but, most commonly doctors will consider SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Some examples of these drugs are Escitalopram (Lexapro),  Citalopram (Celexa) and Sertraline (Prozac), just to name a few (Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments). Although these medications help with altering one’s state of mind, they do come with side effects as well. Loss of appetite and fatigue are some of those effects. (Depression: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments). Another solution doctors found to be helpful in the treatment of depression is psychotherapy. It is proven that combining therapy (talking to someone, like a therapist, so that they can feel understood and not so alone) while also on the medication, is said to help tremendously, hence several studies (Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments). More types of therapies that help aid in depression is cognitive behavior therapy, problem solving therapy and interpersonal therapy, which help the person cope with the depression (Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments). In an experiment conducted by scientists on the Florida campus of TSRI, have found that individuals with a enigmatic receptor called GPR158, are more prone to having depression (New Research Points to better way to treat depression). These scientists did an experiment on mice (both female and male) with and without GPR158, and discovered that those with the receptor became likely to have altered mood changes after being in stressful situations, and expressed more depressive behaviors,  whereas those who did not have the receptor were more likely resilient to altered mood changes. (New Research Points to better way to treat depression). Depression is very common, especially in the teen years. Polls show that 76% of teenagers quite often feel emotions of sudden overwhelming sadness and 45% simply feel down for no reason at all (Majority of teens experienced signs of depression, poll). “Among other questions, when the high school students were asked if they knew anyone their age struggling with depression, 66% of students responded yes. While 68% of students consider mental illness to be a real illness, 32% believe mental illness to be a weakness that one needs to work on.” (Majority of teens experienced signs of depression poll). It is very scary to see how much depression affects the human race, starting at very youngs ages. It is prominent that we know the signs and get help early on.

    “He thought that life had no meaning, that nothing exists that could ever be a source of meaning, and hence there is something deeply absurd about the human quest to find meaning.” (Camus and Absurdity) Camus believed that we as people live in routine and often live meaningless lives. We act more like robots, than we do people. “There is only one really serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.” (Camus and Absurdity) I think depression fits into Camus’ beliefs because nowadays, since depression numbers are so outstanding starting in adolescence, we often rely on pills to lighten our mood when we feel down, rather than actually trying to figure out what’s going on with our bodies/minds. We use the medication as a crutch to go through life. We just go through the motions of taking the pills, or whatever medications, everyday. There is no real cure to depression, so if you have depression, you sort of have to learn to cope with it for the rest of your life. The effects of antidepressants are only temporary, so when you want to feel better, just pop a pill (your depression medication) and you’ll feel better until it wears off again. By doing this routine, we are not fully living our lives. Camus would definitely think that depression was absurd.

    Depression is extremely common amongst our existence.It seems to only be growing. We should help each other become aware of all signs and symptoms of this disease and aid in getting help for one another, whether you are being someone’s listening ear, or you make the call to get them professional help. This disease alone is the cause of many suicides. If we can get everyone to be proactive and educated and also, attentive, then real change can be done. Maybe, slowly, but surely, people can start to feel happy and not like such a burden

“Depression.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.

MacGill, Markus. “Depression: Tests, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 30 Nov. 2017, www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933.

Schimelpfening, Nancy. “When Were the Earliest Accounts of Depression?” Verywell Mind, www.verywellmind.com/who-discovered-depression-1066770.

Tracyn. “Effects of Depression: Physical, Social Effects of Depression.” HealthyPlace, Healthy Place, 2 Jan. 2012, www.healthyplace.com/depression/effects/effects-of-depression-physical-social-effects-of-depression.

Gholipour, Bahar. “Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments.”LiveScience, Purch, 22 Aug. 2017, www.livescience.com/34718-depression-treatment-psychotherapy-anti-depressants.html.

“New Research Points to Better Way to Treat Depression.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 1 Mar. 2018,www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301125040.htm.

“Majority of Teens Experienced Signs of Depression, Poll.” HealthCorps, 23 July 2018, www.healthcorps.org/news-2017-05-depression/.

“Camus and Absurdity.” Philosophy Talk,www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity.

Human Trafficking by Yanet Davila

Taken from your parents at a young age to an unknown place where you are being auctioned off with other women, men, and children. Afraid, you’re forced to stand in the center with very little clothing on. Having men and sometimes women bidding for you as if you are an object that is only worth a couple thousand dollars. You're constantly wondering whether if someone is looking for you or if you will ever see your family again. Sadly, situations like these are common, it is called human trafficking and it is an international crime industry worth $32 billion and has approximately 20-30 million slaves (“History of human trafficking”1). Human trafficking is “For the purpose of- exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs” (“What is Human Trafficking”1). Although many victims have never made it back home, we, as a society, can prevent and help the victims of human trafficking.

History

Human trafficking has been around before the 1200’s. At this time human trafficking was part of everyday life. But it wasn’t until the 1400’s when the European slave trade in Africa 

began. Portugal was the first European country to begin the slave trade in Europe. Eventually other nations like Spain, Holland, Sweden, France and the United States joined the transatlantic slave trade (“History of Human trafficking”1).  There were different ways someone became a slave. Some were captured by enemy soldiers, kidnapped by slave merchants to make a profit, and even sold by their own family members to make a profit because they’re too poor to pay off a debt. When America joined the slave trade, it was the beginning of awful, prejudice, and unlawful acts against Africans and African Americans. It wasn’t until after the civil war, the 13^th amendment abolished slavery throughout America. Eventually slavery became illegal throughout the world.  But a new form of slavery arose, it was called “white slavery”.  According to Kristina Kangaspunta, 'white slavery' is obtaining a white woman or girl- by the use of force, drugs, or by dishonesty- for sex which is unwanted by the woman or girl (“History of Human trafficking”1). During the 1900’s white slavery was very prominent, so they created a worldwide law against the white slave trade.  Even with the new laws human trafficking still exists around the world. At this point it wasn’t just white slavery anymore because the color of your skin didn’t matter, because anyone can be a victim to human trafficking. Now in the 2000’s there are charities and non-profit organizations to help out the victims and police are cracking down on more trafficking rings. 

Social Effects

When you think of human trafficking you think of places like Thailand, Russia, and Asia and not the u.s. it's estimated that 200,000 women annually are forced into the sex trade in the US, the majority of them being Americans (“Human Trafficking in America”1). in our society we would like to think that human trafficking doesn't exist in America especially because there was a time when Americans used to own slaves. as a society we are in denial. It's easier to think of a prostitute as a beautiful happy hooker while the John is a wealthy gentleman who looks like Richard Gere (“Human Trafficking in America”1). But the reality is that women and even children as young as 12 are being kidnapped against there will and brutally forced into prostitution.

Human trafficking doesn't just affect us, it effects the surviving victims as well. Victims experience the effects of trafficking throughout their lives due to the cost of treating the physical and mental health consequences of victimization, diminished employment opportunity due to lack of legal work histories, and criminalization of the sex trafficking victims(Clark 1). these victims are often not able communicate with others, have very little to no social skills and have low self-esteem. The physical and psychological trauma limits their ability to break free from their traffickers and rebuild their lives, due to there constant unfair criminalization. Human trafficking should not exist especially in the u.s., as a nation we need to recognize this as a epidemic. A epidemic that growing at fast if we don't stop it.

Examples

         Lastly in two Ted Talks two different stories have common hardships. When Barbra turned 12 she ran away from her home in Fairfax Virginia to Washington DC because she was being abused and no one would listen. In DC A woman came up to her on the street saying that she knew how she felt and that she wanted to help her(Amaya 1). So she went with her to her apartment Sadly her trafficker was there ,the woman she felt like she trusted was actually recruiting Runaways. One day on a street corner in DC they sold her to a trafficker from New York. she lost all her innocence when she was sold off and brought to New York. People asked her why did she leave. the fact is she couldn't the trafficker programmed her and made her into a commodity and instilled a fake bond with her so she would never leave. But when she did it took a very long time almost 10 years now she is a public speaker and helps out organizations to help victims of human trafficking.

 Oie is from Thailand and he is the oldest of his siblings. When his mother died from a heroin overdose he had a strong responsibility to take care of his siblings. to find where he followed an older male to a night District. He soon found out what this job entailed he started off serving drinks and providing massages. but he wasn't making enough money so he did what the other boys do, he was hesitant and disgusted, but he had no choice and started to have sex with foreign men. This story is like many even though he is physically free he is not psychologically free(Sobel 1). later on he stole money from his customers and was sentenced to four years in jail. after a organization reached out to him to help him. now he has a full-time job helping victims of human trafficking

Solutions

            Almost every day women, men, and children are being trafficked. It is happening not just in third world countries but also in America. Human trafficking is modern day slavery and it profits off the torment of others. These victims are abused physically and psychologically. As people we are often numb to how cruel human beings can be and we don't want to accept the fact that human trafficking constantly occurs near where we live.

 In order to stop this epidemic we have to raise awareness and find new solutions. When i say raise awareness i am not just talking about reading statistics about human trafficking and posting them on social media, because that doesn't do anything to help the victims. Some may argue  that it does raise awareness, to an extent yes. But honestly ask yourself when was the last time you read a informative blog with information and statistics about human trafficking and actually did something about it. There are many better solutions to stop and prevent human trafficking than just by reading.

To prevent trafficking you have to know the signs of a person that is being trafficked. The signs very and are pretty vague, so no one sign means there being trafficked. The signs are categorized in two, living/working conditions and abnormal behavior.    According to “23 signs of human trafficking,” “victims live in a place provided by there trafficker and are restricted from coming and going as he or she wishes” (1). “At work victims are sometimes under 18, provide sex acts for money or trade, sometimes are in the commercial sex industry, and have someone who manages him or her, such as a pimp” (1). “They are unpaid, or paid very little or paid only through tips, work excessively long or unusual hours, are not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work, and usually owe a large debt which they are unable to pay it off” (1).  These victims fall prey by being recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work(1). The places victims work in have high security measures (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras(1). 

Besides the work place you can see signs in the behavior of the victims. Traffickers will  manipulate and or threaten victims trying to leave. Victims are usually  fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid especially after bringing up law enforcement, they avoid eye contact and Appears malnourished, Show signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement or torture, Have few or no personal possessions, are  not in control of his/her own ID or passport, are not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating), have lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or does not know what city he/she is in, has loss of sense of time and or Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story (1).

Other than seeing the signs there are solutions we can be apart of. A solution that can help is being a informed consumer, you do this buy making sure to ask where the products are coming from and by doing your own research by “checking out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor “(15 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking 1). To be more involved you can join or donate to nonprofit organizations that combat human trafficking. But to make a difference you should “Meet with and/or write to your local, state, and federal government representatives to let them know you care about combating human trafficking, and ask what they are doing to address it”(1). Of course there is many more solutions, but the most important is if you “believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, report your suspicions to law enforcement(in the united states) by calling 911 or the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline line at 1-888-373-7888”(1).

Camus and Absurdity

            Albert Camus was a french writer and Philosopher. He believed in “the absurd “ which  questions the “meaning of life in a meaningless world” (Rayner). People will often find meaning in helping the victims of human trafficking either by becoming and finding their purpose as a FBI agent or just volunteering for their local non profit organizations. Camus would believe this to be absurd, because “The problem with it is that everyone we know and love will die someday, and some of them will suffer tremendously before that happens” (Maguire).  He will believe the outcome will be even more absurd, because people who find meaning in life by helping others will have to “confront the grim truth” that they will not be able to save everyone. A individual whose purpose in life is to help others, now knowing that they can't save everyone can have sociological repercussions and put them into eternal chaos.

Conclusion

            Human trafficking is happening all around us and it is a social epidemic worth over 32 billion dollars (“history of human trafficking”). People will argue often on why we should care about these victims. These victims are abused and used by powerful people that care more about money than a human life, which they see as disposable. So we should care that these victims could be our siblings, friends, nieces, nephews, parents, co workers, and even our future children. As the millennial generation we have the power to use our voices and influence with technology at are fingertips, to raise awareness and find solutions to combat this epidemic. So lets make society safer for our children and the future generations to come.

Work cited

“15 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department              of State, www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/.

“23 Signs of Human Trafficking.” DomesticShelters.org, Domesticshelters.org, 24 Apr. 2019,  www.domesticshelters.org/articles/human-trafficking/23-signs-of-human-trafficking.

“History of Human Trafficking.” Home, sexualexploitatio.weebly.com/history-of-human-trafficking.html.

“Human Trafficking In America.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201304/human-trafficking-in-america.

Liam.MCLAUGHLIN. “United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.” What Is Human Trafficking?, www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html?ref=menuside.

Maguire, Laura. “Camus and Absurdity.” Philosophy Talk, Philosophytalk.org, 28 Feb. 2015,  

            www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity. Accessed 27 Apr. 2017.

Rayner, Tim. “Camus, Absurdity, and Revolt.” Philosophy for Change, 23 Sept. 2014, philosophyforchange.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/camus-authenticity-and-revolt/.

Talks, TEDx. “I Was Human Trafficked for 10 Years. We Can Do More to Stop It | Barbara Amaya | TEDxMidAtlantic.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_kXuQHZmWs.

Talks, TEDx. “Sex Trafficking Isn't What You Think It Is | Meghan Sobel | TEDxMileHighWomen.” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Dec. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyhF7q3_bpk.

                                                                                                                                                                       

Sexual Assault on College Campuses: An Epidemic- Madison Neidhart

Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Imagine this: It’s your first year as a college student. You are living in a new place, all alone, with no friends to help you adjust to this big change.  The workload is greater than you have ever experienced before, and you are completely responsible for your own wellbeing.  You spend most of your time in the library, studying late into the night.  One night you are walking home late after hours of cramming. It does not seem like anyone else is out, but you can’t help the feeling that someone is following you.  Before you can react you are pulled out of the relative safety of the lit sidewalks and into the inky darkness of a side ally. Next thing you know you are left broken and alone, feeling violated and ashamed. One in four women in college will be sexually assaulted in some way. Most of these attacks will happen within the student’s first two semesters (“Sexual Assault on College Campuses Is Common.”). Sexual assault does not have to go as far as rape to count, it can be any type of sexual activity or contact that you do not consent to (1). The vile act of sexual assault is as old as time itself, but awareness of its prevalence on college campuses is becoming more and more prominent.

Sexual assault in higher education is not an epidemic that cropped up overnight. It has a long history that extends further than the research and awareness of it does.  It was not until the mid twentieth century when awareness of the subject even became a topic of discussion.  One of the earliest studies done on the subject was “Male Sex Aggression on a University Campus” published in 1957, but awareness of rape really rose with the emergence of second-wave feminism in the sixties and seventies (Goodwin). These feminists worked to bring the horrors of sexual assault into the light of day. They opened the first ever rape crisis center, called “Bay Area Women Against Rape,” in Oakland, California in 1971 (1).  Mary Koss was one of the first people to do extensive research into sexual assault specifically on college campuses (1).  She published a study in 1982 that popularized the term “date rape,” which was coined in 1976 by Susan Brownmiller, meaning a dating situation in which “an aggressor may press his advantage to the point where pleasantness quickly turns to unpleasantness and more than the woman bargained for” (Zimmerman). After her initial article and the resulting outcry for more research addressing the issue, Koss began to conduct research with more than 6,100 undergraduate students for what would be the largest scientific studies of date rape of her time (Kamenetz). The study revealed that one in four female students will have some sort of experience with sexual assault during their time in college (1).  The study also shed a light on why sexual assault was such a prevalent epidemic on college campuses.  Young adult, many for the first time, are experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and sex, and many do not know their limits or even how to communicate such limits to their peers (Goodwin). Many do not know what to do when they are confronted with situations conducive to sexual assault (1). This produces an environment that allows a culture of normalized assault to fester. 

In recent years there have been strides made by colleges and universities to prevent such heinous acts.  These prevention methods include increased security, nighttime safety escorts, defense workshops, and emphasized education on the meaning of consent (“Realities of Sexual Assault on Campus.”).  Still, there is more to be done to make college campuses safe environments for learning.

Sexual assault is unquestionably a traumatic experience for any victim. One in ten rape victims suffer from PTSD (“Sexual Assault on College Campuses Is Common.”).  The effects of the attack on the victim’s emotional and psychological state make it difficult for the victim to cope with academics and even everyday life (1).  Many cases go unreported because the victim is afraid they will not be believed or think the trauma of reliving the experience is not worth the, most likely, light consequences her attacker will face (“Realities of Sexual Assault on Campus.”).  This stigma around sexual assault on campus creates a feeling of unease and unsafety in students. When cases are not handled with care and seriousness by a university it shows their students that the college does not care about their wellbeing, and if they were to be next they would be all alone. That is a bleak and sad reality for these students to live in. It creates a culture that normalizes and minimizes what should be an unthinkable act. 

One of the most significant cases of sexual assault on a college campus is the case of Jeanne Clery.  Clery decided to attend Lehigh University for its small, serene atmosphere and proximity to her hometown (Beyette). But in the spring of her freshman year in the early hours of the morning, Jeanne was attacked and murdered in her dorm room (1). The entire ordeal was a crime of opportunity.  The nineteen year old had come home late the past night from a party and left the door unlocked for her roommate, who was on a date (1).  Between the hours of 4:30 and 6:00 A.M. a fellow Lehigh student gained entry to Jeanne’s dorm through a series of doors propped open by other residents (1).  He entered the dorm building with the intent to steal and, upon finding her door open, chose her room (1). However, he was caught in the act when Jeanne woke up and he saw another opportunity.  Jeanne’s body was found later that morning violently raped and strangled (1).

Clery’s parents were distraught to find that the university had a rapidly escalating crime rate which the school failed to report, as well as what they deemed “slipshod campus security” (Beyette) They contend that had they know the state of crime on campus they never would have sent their daughter to the school (1). This lead them on a crusade to require universities to report crime on campus and make campuses safer in general. Through their nonprofit “Security on Campus” they lobbied for legislation requiring both public and private universities to make public crime statistics reports and timely warning messages concerning violent crime on campus (1). Because of their effort, all US colleges are required to do just that through the Jeanne Clery Act, enacted in 1990 (Goodwin). 

Another relevant case in recent culture is the case of Brock Turner.  Brock Turner was a swimmer for Stanford University’s varsity team until he was caught by two other students in the act of raping a woman behind a Dumpster (Koren).  Turner blamed the alcohol and party atmosphere for his abhorrent behavior, and wrote to the judge expressing how sorry he was for the grief he had caused, though he still maintained that he never knew the young woman was not consenting (1). He was convicted of three felonies, and though the prosecution asked for six years to be served, the judge only ordered six months, three for good behavior (1). He believed any more would have a “severe impact” on the young man (1). This sentence sparked outrage across the nation, especially once the letter the victim (who chose to stay anonymous) read to the judge was made public (1).  In the letter she detailed the horrors of her experience and how that night has ruined her life.  An even greater outrage was sparked once another letter was made public, this time written by the perpetrator’s father to the judge. In it he pleaded for a lighter sentence, saying his son’s life should not be ruined over “twenty minutes of action” (1).  The public was disgusted by the language used and how this man refused to admit his son had committed a crime. Many saw the sentence as merely a slap on the wrist, calling into question the way sexual assault cases are handled (1). The case once again brought the horrors of sexual assault on campus into the spotlight.

Much has been done both on the local and national level to try to prevent sexual assault on college campuses.  Sadly, this is a problem that will probably never be completely stomped out. It is, however, possible to make these occurrences a rarity, something that makes these solutions more of a contingency than an expectancy. One of the first steps is education of both the dangers that exist and how to defend against those dangers. The Clery Act discussed earlier is one example of this (Beyette). It gives prospective students and their parent all the necessary information about the relative safety of a school before they even step on campus (1).  There are also required workshops on every college campus meant to education both men and women about sexual assault (Newman).  It aims to help women protect themselves against assault by pointing out high risk situations and ways to protect themselves if they find themselves in one of those situation (1). The dangers of drinking and drugs is often heavily emphasized, as about 50% of sexual assaults involved alcohol in some way (“Realities of Sexual Assault on Campus.”). But the burden of prevention is not just on the potential victims, there is also a heavy emphasis on education of explicit consent and predatory behavior to male students and bystander intervention training for all students (Newman).  One such program published in a 2015 study by the New England Journal of Medicine was extremely successful (1). The program, created by psychologist Dr. Charlene Senn, reduced female college students’ chances of being raped by 50% (1).  Many universities have also strived to provide a way for students to feel safe to report incidents, as one of the biggest hurdles with sexual assault is underreporting “Realities of Sexual Assault on Campus.”). Only about 30% of these types of crimes are ever reported, and only about 25% of those result in arrest (1).  Many universities have allowed for ways for students to remain anonymous when reporting these crimes (1). This has had a varying level of success on campuses (1).

Many university campuses that have implemented a safety escort program open to all students (Buttaro).  It works by having a number that students can call if they ever need to get somewhere after dark (1). They can then get picked up from their location (usually in some sort of golf cart) and escorted wherever they need to go (1). This means the students no longer have to walk alone in the dark late at night, which makes for an easy target for predators (1).  All of these seemingly small solutions are working together to make a safer environment of living and learning for all students. 

Albert Camus’ beliefs do not really tie directly into this epidemic.  They do, however, relate to the epidemic of violence in general, which could be extrapolated to infer Camus’ possible thoughts on the issue of sexual violence.  It is important to note the dangers of putting words into another’s mouth, especially someone not alive to defend themselves, so all of this is merely conjecture based upon the information available. That being said, a rather depressing case could be made for his belief in the meaninglessness of any of this.

            Studying Camus’ writing, specifically the ones of his book The Rebel, it seems that Camus cannot find meaning or rationale in anything, including things as dark as violence and murder (Aronson). In fact, there is a passage from The Rebel that explains his feelings on those subjects:

Awareness of the absurd, when we first claim to deduce a rule of behavior from it, makes murder seem a matter of indifference, to say the least, and hence possible. … There is no pro or con: the murderer is neither right nor wrong. We are free to stoke the crematory fires or to devote ourselves to the care of lepers. Evil and virtue are mere chance or caprice (Aronson).

In the absurd there is no meaning (Maguire). Therefore, there is no morality or sense of right and wrong since everything is without meaning or purpose (Aronson).  Camus also believed in the certainty of injustice, rebellion, lying, and violence (1). To him violence was “inevitable and impossible (1).” For him, to ignore injustice is to become an accomplice in it, and to fight against it is to become a part of the rebellion, with violence an inevitability of that (1).  It is all a never ending cycle of contradiction that points to the absurdity of the human condition (1).  The only solution to this uncertainty is to just live in the moment (1).

            From this we could gather that while Camus would not approve or in any way condone campus sexual assault, he would probably not be surprised by it. He lives in a grey area of morality, or more accurately, a grey area void of morality (Maguire). What is right one minute could be wrong the next.  In a life void of meaning or purpose, there is no deplorability (Aronson).  Violence and death is inevitable (1).  One cannot dwell on an inescapable part of life. They must just keep on going.  The effects of this epidemic would be inconsequential to him. With no greater meaning there is nothing to strive towards, there is no justice or order to maintain. In my opinion, to live in a world with that mentality would be like an especially disconcerting episode of The Twilight Zone.

            In conclusion, campus sexual assault is a very sad but very prevalent part of pretty much all college campuses.  Though it has been around for a long time, awareness for the issue has increased significantly in recent years. Along with awareness comes increases support and solutions for the issue. This is important because sexual assault on college campuses do not just affect the victim. When one person is attacked, the whole community feels its effects.  It is an epidemic that can touch anyone.

Works Cited

Aronson, Ronald. “Albert Camus.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 10 Apr. 2017, plato.stanford.edu/entries/camus/#HapFacOneFat.

Beyette, Beverly. “Campus Crime Crusade : Howard and Connie Clery Lost Their Daughter to a Crazed Thief; Now They're Angry and Fighting Back.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 1989, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-10-vw-301-story.html.

Buttaro, JoAnn. “Preventing Sexual Assualt.” CollegeStats.org, collegestats.org/resources/sexual-assault-prevention/.

Goodwin, Kimberly. “Origins and Evolution of Campus Sexual Assault Prevention and Policies.” The University of Vermont, www.uvm.edu/~vtconn/v16/goodwin1.html.

Kamenetz, Anya. “The History of Campus Sexual Assault.” NPR, NPR, 30 Nov. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/11/30/366348383/the-history-of-campus-sexual-assault.

Koren, Marina. “Telling the Story of the Stanford Rape Case.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 9 June 2016, www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/06/stanford-sexual-assault-letters/485837/.

Maguire, Laura. “Camus and Absurdity.” Philosophy Talk, 7 Feb. 2015, www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity.

Newman, Amie. “Preventing Sexual Assault on College Campuses: What Works?” Our Bodies Ourselves, 20 Feb. 2019, www.ourbodiesourselves.org/2017/09/preventing-sexual-assault-on-college-campuses/

“Realities of Sexual Assault on Campus.” BestColleges.com, BestColleges.com, 15 May 2018, www.bestcolleges.com/resources/preventing-sexual-assault/.

“Sexual Assault on College Campuses Is Common.” Womenshealth.gov, 13 Sept. 2018, www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/sexual-assault-and-rape/college-sexual-assault.

Zimmerman, Eilene. “Campus Sexual Assault: A Timeline of Major Events.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 June 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/education/campus-sexual-assault-a-timeline-of-major-events.html.