Growing up, children always hear the same rules and regulations. Don’t talk to strangers, don’t get in a car if you don’t know the person and don’t eat Halloween candy if it’s already open. At a certain age the rules change. The new rules cover entirely different situations. Don’t take a drink from a stranger, don’t leave your drink unattended and don’t wander off on your own.
In most cases this change begins towards the end of high school, in order to prepare young adults for the realities of college. College campuses seem to be a breeding ground for irresponsible behavior in the form of underage drinking, illegal drugs and promiscuous behavior. This is why it is important to be educated about the real risks that exist in the world of total freedom from parental units.
In 2012 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that nearly 60.3 percent of full-time students were current drinkers, 40.1 percent were binge drinkers, and 14.4 percent were heavy drinkers. The same survey suggested that 22 percent of full-time college students currently use illicit drugs, which consist of narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens and cannabis.
These substances have the ability to alter the mind and can be dangerous to one’s health. When a person is under the influence they are not in full control, which puts them at risk in any situation. Not only is college a time for independence and experimenting, it is also a high point for sexual assault to take place. Sexual assault is about power and control. It is not about someone being attracted to another person or being in a romantic relationship, it is all about power and control. The offender has the opportunity to gain that power over someone when they are vulnerable. Drugs and alcohol have the ability to put people more at risk of sexual assault simply because it makes them more vulnerable.
Sexual assault can be considered an umbrella, which has a variety of sexual crimes falling under it. According to The Center for Family Justice sexual assault is defined as any non-consensual sexual act that is forced by one or more persons on another. Forms of sexual assault can include rape, sexual harassment or any other form of unwanted sexual contact.
“With sexual assault or rape there is a lack of consent,” Candice Linehan, director of Sexual Assault Services at Delaware County Women Against Rape, said. “A charge rape in the crimes code means, someone has sex with you that was either a threat of force, or by force or you are drunk, drugged or sleeping. That is what constitutes rape in the state of Pennsylvania.”
Delaware County Women Against Rape is a non-profit private agency that provides free, confidential services 24-hours a day, seven days a week to both men and women. DCWAR provides crisis intervention, individual counseling, long-term counseling, group therapy, advocacy services, police accompaniment services, hospital accompaniment and court accompaniment.
Men and women are both at risk. One in Four, Inc reports that one in four college women report surviving rape, which amounts to approximately 25 percent. While nearly three percent of college men report surviving rape or attempted rape, but of course not all rapes are reported.
“It is your choice to make certain decisions whether they be healthy or unhealthy, safe or unsafe, risky or unrisky decisions. You have a choice to abuse alcohol, that is your choice that you make.” Linehan said. “But it is never your choice to have someone violate you while you are under the influence of alcohol. It is never your fault to have been a been a victim of sexual assault no matter what you are doing.”
Ninety-eight percent of offenders are a person that you do know, a date, neighbor or acquaintance. It is important to look for signs of aggressiveness, controlling behavior or an attempt at isolating you, verbal abuse or sexually aggressive behavior are all things that might escalate abusive behavior into sexual acts. These things are known as red flags because a lot of times physical and sexual assault go hand-in-hand. Looking at one’s own relationship and evaluating how you feel in your own relationship is important. Do you feel comfortable, motivated, loved? What does that look like? Or are you always feeling on edge? It is extremely important to have healthy relationships and understand what an unhealthy relationship is.
“When it comes down to it, no means no.” Linehan said.”In the state of Pennsylvania you don’t actually have to say no, it’s any person that violates you in a sexual manner you do not consent to.”
If you are a victim of rape or sexual assault it is important to not shower, wash or douche, as it may remove evidence that can link the offender to the crime. Either call the police or go to the hospital on your own, bring a change of clothes because the police may want to hold the clothes as evidence. At the hospital a doctor will examine and collect evidence. When a victim does seek help, it is also possible to simply seek support and not file for any legal proceedings. Rape or sexual assault is a traumatic experience and there will be effects of this trauma. It is important to seek help in order to find methods of coping.
