'Tis the season for horror stories around America. Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Mike Myers and whatnot. But if you want to read a truly terrifying horror story, read on.
Last year, at 3 a.m., some of us were singing with the Beatles, mock-fighting with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or just fighting to stand upright against the tear gas and riot police. Meanwhile, either across town, next door to our home or at the house just up the street when everyone had left to join the chaos down the road, a girl was sexually assaulted. Maybe the criminal found an opportunity after she downed too much wop. Maybe it was the GHB in her drink. Or maybe it was the fact that he thought she said \yes"" when she really said ""no."" Either way, while some of us lost our lunches, others lost their innocence.
Maybe later the perpetrators would say that it was consensual. Or that the victim mumbled ""yeah"" before she passed out. Or that she was asking for it by dressing as a ""slutty nurse"" or ""Hooters girl"" or whatever.
And according to various rape-counseling centers and student groups like PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment), the victim is going to actually believe that it was her fault. That she teased too much. Or she wasn't strong enough to scream for help. Somehow, this sick crime will cause more distress in the victim than the criminal.
Now here are the really vile and twisted parts of this story:
1) this crime would probably go unreported.
2) if she does come forward, many will blame her or not believe her.
Think I'm exaggerating? What about Kobe Bryant? The minute the story hit the press, how many ""pundits"" on ESPN and callers to talk radio uttered ""She's probably lying,"" or ""She's probably a slut that regretted it in the morning?"" Without hearing any testimony, without hearing her side in a court of law, she was already grilled by many in the court of public opinion. Some even went so far as to leak her name and past sexual experiences.
It's no wonder that, according to PAVE, many victims won't even go to the police. If she hinted at any sort of sexuality, then her character is somehow automatically questioned. And of the ones reported, the statistic is that one out of eight women during their four-plus year stay in Madison will be raped (according to a 1996 UW study). And that doesn't include the other sexual assaults that fall outside the realm of rape. That's 12.5 percent of about 20,000 or 2,500 women. And that's the people who reported it.
I don't say these things just to be a downer on such a fun weekend. Crime never takes breaks during the week or during non-special times. It's just that, well, everyone has been talking about the all-out debauchery that occurs this weekend. And if you think about the factors of tons of booze, out-of-towners permeating the campus and costumes which lead to anonymity, the risk for sexual violence rises. According to Yolanda Garza from the Dean's Office, ""it's not uncommon for us to see an increase in sexual assaults during large events."" And there's no larger event than Halloween.
So take SAFEWalk and SAFERide. Cover your cup at a house party. Be careful with whom you keep company. Less than five percent of assaults are done by strangers to the victim. Look out for each other. It might seem awkward to appear nosy in someone else's affairs, but another reason I love this campus is because we all take care of each other.. So maybe those five seconds of concern could save someone from a lifetime of hurt.
Have a safe weekend.
If you would like more information regarding ways you can help prevent sexual assault on campus, contact PAVE at PAVE is also distributing prevention cards which are available at residence hall desks, Memorial Union, the Campus Women's Center, LGBT campus center, MSC and other student organizations on campus.??
