By Weston Mendez in colloboration with Max McDulin
JFresh News
ATHENS — The message from the administration at Ohio University to its students is to put safety first. As emphasized repeatedly and reflexively, this refers to protecting everyone from and preventing sexual violence across campus. Nationwide sexual assault topics reveal that 1 in 6 women and even 1 in every 33 men fall victim to some type of sexual assault in their lives. At OU, the numbers aren’t much better despite the stressed messages that students hear nearly every day, whether they are a freshman at orientation or an upperclassman who is preparing themself for graduation.
Sexual assault and similar forms of domestic violence is a commonality anymore in modern society. It is heard all over the news like the instances with Ray Rice, WNBA player Brittney Griner, and most notably, the case involving Bill Cosby. Even common, normal people can be perpetrators and/or victims as was seen in the rape case of the football players at Steubenville High School. It all goes to show how close-to-home sexual violence can be as well as the reality that truly anyone can be at risk to unfortunately be somehow involved in incidences like these.
The one thing that all of these cases, specifically the accused perpetrators, had in common that is often overlooked is that there was some kind of psychological motive behind their heinous doings. In most cases, the perpetrator can commit violence against their partner, ex-partner, or even a person they tried to involve themselves with previously out of aggravation. Usually, the aggravation is the result of some kind tension that arose between them. The motive could also be lack of control within the perpetrator or possibly a way to try and prove their over their victim. Above all, the most frequently seen motive for sexual violence is when the perpetrator sees an individual who is intoxicated and therefore cannot think clearly about the actions they are taking. In the suspect’s mind, they see a chance to get ahead and find an easy advantage to have sex, whether it is consensual or not.
It’s clear that it is not the simplest thing to avoid sexual violence. It’s why the message for students at Ohio University is to take as much as caution as possible at all times. Unfortunately, for the victim of any sexual assault situation, once it happens it can never be taken away, no matter how much help may be given after the fact. So the question now becomes “What all can be done to never let it happen?”
For students, the possibilities available to protect themselves are plentiful, and the resources are there to help anyone. The help can come from anyone, whether they are a trained individual from an organizational resource, a close friend, or a quick-thinking stranger in the right place at the right time.
The Ohio University Health Alerts team describes a list of options one can look upon in order to make a preemptive strike before any sexual violence is even thought about.
A source from the team says “It is important for people to establish and equivalently respect sexual boundaries of others and becoming an ally for others via communication and education can be very helpful as well. When matters turn for the worse, don’t hesitate to call the police.”
Additional pieces of advice go toward those who are outside of a situation that can help the lives of others. Friends of those at potential danger have a chance to prove their friendships in these situations. When their friend becomes noticeably intoxicated, the best thing for them to do is stick close with their friend and divert anyone away that shows signs of trying to make a pass at them.
Even strangers of those in potential danger can become long-awaited friends. On the OU campus, the anti-sexual violence movement Better Bystanders preaches that anyone who becomes aware of these dangerous situations take some kind of action to be of aid toward those in need. Many tactics can be used to confront or divert potential attackers and steer them away from their next victim that never was. That stranger can change the life of another stranger by simply just speaking up.
All of these actions can be the steps to bringing an end to sexual violence college campuses, especially here at Ohio University. The one attitude that is still shared, however, is that many students say they don’t feel safe yet at all times on campus and in town. We can answer to their fears if we can reach out to help them and find the clearest answers to diminish sexual and domestic violence. The student body can make each other feel proud to stand and walk on this campus, but it takes more effort more answers to get it. https://youtu.be/W9R7Ong8bJk
No comments:
Post a Comment