Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
because I have been a victim myself, but because I receive at least one email from the OUPD
almost every weekend about a new sexual assault here on campus. Whether its a person walking
alone at night, an attack at a party, or even in their own dorm rooms, sexual assault is something
that happens all too frequently, with little to no justification for the victims. Many sexual assaults
dont even get reported, and when they do many of the perpetrators are not punished accordingly
because assault is not always easy to prove. What we need to work on is furthering our
When you become a student at Ohio University youre required to take an alcohol
education class, as well as a sexual harassment class. These required classes should be
implemented on all campuses, not just some, to increase awareness of sexual assault, as well as
what to do before you go out and while youre out if youre put in/see an uncomfortable
situation.
Many colleges spread awareness by doing Fuck Rape Culture marches, holding survivor
advocacy programs and support groups such as A Mile Together (more popularly known as Walk
A Mile In Her Shoes), and by doing informational videos and programs. Those of us as Ohio
University also receive emails from our police department when an assault occurs. These allow
people of all races, genders, and sexes to spread the word about assault, as well as creating safe
people ways to diffuse a power-based violence situation that they may come across in any
setting. They taught three main things: Delegate, Direct, and Distract. If you dont feel okay
saying something in a situation youre uncomfortable in, you can delegate the situation to
someone better suited, such as a police officer or a more outspoken friend. Being direct in a
situation involves putting yourself directly into the situation and either asking if the person is
okay, or telling the potential perpetrator that you dont feel comfortable with the situation being
presented. The last method, distract, also involves intervening directly with the situation, but
instead of saying something about your discomfort with what is going on, attract attention
elsewhere. When using this tactic, you can pretend to know the potential victim and begin talking
with them to scare off the perpetrator, or spill a spiked drink as though it is an accident. Another
way this would work is to strike up a conversation with either person in the situation as though
When it comes to prevention, there are several measures that can be taken to keep
yourself safe, no matter your sexual identity. On the surface, little steps can be taken. Never walk
alone, especially at night, and if you find yourself doing so anyway, always be sure to keep your
cell phone charged and on you. If, for some reason, your phone is dead, pretend to be talking on
it anyway to avoid being considered approachable by others. You can also buy pepper spray or
a multipurpose tool (for any situation!) to void off threats, as well as to protect yourself if the
need arises. If you are walking alone but your phone is charged, have your emergency numbers
pulled up, or talk on the phone to someone you trust. Before you go out, be sure to have a plan
for the night in mind: set limits on your alcohol consumption (you can keep track on your
phone); have a buddy for the night and keep track of each other; know at least two people at any
party or social gathering that you attend; never leave your drink unattended, and if you do, do not
pick it back up after walking away. Other things that you should think about during your night
include being aware of anything people are passing around: dont eat, drink, or ingest anything
someone that you dont know hands you. It doesnt matter if youre a seasoned drinker or a
practiced smoker, you never know what youre taking if you didnt get it from a trusted source.
You can never be too cautious! You are more likely to be sexually assaulted by someone you
know rather than a stranger. Consent is an important measure to get as well. Consent cannot be
Prevention on a larger scale comes in multiple forms, such as clothing, technologies, and
accessories! There is a nail polish created by Undercover Colors that tells if your drink has been
spiked because when you dip a finger into the beverage, spiked drinks will change the color of
your nail polish. There are also test strips and coasters that do the same thing, and this costs a
dollar for two tests. A personal drink identifier is another of this type, and its reusable! It takes a
sample of the drink to determine if there are foreign substances within. Another invention created
to help end sexual assault comes in the form of an app for smartphones, called Circle of 6 (you
can also create a group message for a similar effect) which allows for messages to be sent to a set
group of people or local authorities if youre in a situation that becomes too intense or heated.
Guard My Angel is another app that lets your emergency contacts know where you are via GPS
coordinates, and records your last known location if you become immobilized for too long, thus
Clothing and jewelry have also been used to prevent assault, such as the pendent created
by the company Stiletto that can be worn as a bracelet or a necklace that you can double click in
an unsafe environment. The clicking sends an alert to your emergency contacts and can include a
message with a photo, instructions on who further to call, and insurance information, while also
sending a GPS location and dialing 911. Anti-rape undergarments are also available now! These
are boy-cut style underpants that have three cut resistant bands (one around the waist, one around
each leg), and a lock on the waist that must be undone with two hands. This prevents an attacker
from restraining you with one hand and attacking with the other. These underpants also have an
impenetrable covering over the genital area. Another type of anti-assault device comes in the
form of a barbed condom, which a female can place inside the vagina that will clamp down on
When it comes to sexual assault, there is nothing to joke about. According to the National
Sexual Violence Resource Center, roughly 1 in 5 women, and 1 in 16 men are victims of sexual
assault, just while theyre in college! The reporting rate for rape runs a little over 40%, with 63%
not being reported at all, and when it comes to sexual child abuse, only 12% is reported.
Campuses around the country are talking and making changes. People are standing up and
having their voices heard, both survivors and advocates! Change is coming, and we need to stand
up, spread the word and teach strategies! We need to be the ones to fight for our sisters, our
brothers, and our friends, family and children. To create the change that we wish to see! We can
intervene in many ways, we can change the course. If we work together, we can be the
difference.