On a typical Friday night, most undergraduates, including those attending UW-Madison, have come to terms with paying five dollars at the door to receive a red Solo cup for unlimited drinking. However, some college students are often exempt from the fee: young women.
According to Kelly Anderson, director of the Dane County Rape Crisis Center, the majority of sexual assaults involve a female victim. According to the Center for Disease Control, 20 to 25 percent of college women will experience either an attempted or completed rape during their college career.
According to Anderson, there is an assumption in society that women are lying about being victims of sexual assault.
""I think it has a lot to do with a huge fear on the part of men that they are going to be accused and that you can't prove you didn't do something,"" Anderson said. ""I think oftentimes that men feel very vulnerable to accusations of sexual assault.""
Joe Morris, a member of the Intrafraternity Council (IFC) and Delta Epsilon, said males oftentimes look for praise from their peers by seeking multiple sexual partners, potentially encouraging them to use force.
""Recent studies have shown that a stunning number, like 50 to 60 percent of men in some of the research projects, say that they would commit an act of sexual assault if they knew they wouldn't get in trouble for it,"" Anderson said.
According to Wisconsin statute alcohol is considered a drug, and the law prohibits an individual from having intercourse with someone who is incapacitated by alcohol and cannot give consent.
""Technically you are not able to give consent when you're drunk, which blurs the line of what's appropriate, because with only a few drinks you can usually give consent,"" Morris said.
According to Anderson, alcohol is the number-one drug that shows up on screenings of people who have been sexually assaulted.
""I think it's normal to desire a physical relationship with the opposite sex, but using alcohol or drugs at a party to facilitate hooking up with a girl is wrong. I've witnessed it plenty of times when the girl wouldn't be as willing when sober,"" Eric Allred, a UW-Madison sophomore, said.
Assistant Dean of Students Kevin Helmkamp said there is a tendency for men in society to bond through their interaction with women.
""Fraternities do not invite girls to their parties to drink for free just because they are nice guys, they are increasing their access to drunk women … because it increases the likelihood that they will get to have sex with them,"" Anderson said.
According to Morris, IFC and Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment are stepping up their efforts to increase awareness regarding sexual assault in the Greek community. Several university organizations are focusing on influencing students to view men's attitudes as the solution.
""I think that guys on this campus need to step up on this issue and not treat their relationship with women so cavalierly,"" Helmkamp said. ""If guys know about that, they need to get in their face and say, ‘This has got to end, and it ends right now.' I think there is great power in guys doing that.""
