Sexual assault is a constant threat, and the first six weeks at some universities are considered the most dangerous.
It’s a good reminder that students should remain conscientious of their environment and aware of their surroundings.
But it says something very bad about the culture here when we begin to factor in sexual assault to our daily calculus about what goes on in a college town.
It is commonly accepted that female students are at a serious risk of being sexually assaulted. And this risk is only heightened by the presence of alcohol, which is an all-too-common feature of college life.
And perhaps this acceptance is the real issue.
The concept that we consider it fairly common for female students to be taken advantage of by men — often their fellow students — begs for serious reflection.
To expect that drinking alcohol or walking home alone at night could be an invitation for sexual assault ignores the broader issue: There is never an acceptable time, place or cause for assault.
There are numerous resources that educate about risks and help victims of assault. Counseling and Wellness Services, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, and the Carolina Women’s Center are some doing an excellent job.
Obviously, there are bad people in the world, and we must always be mindful.
But the great risk is that it becomes tacitly accepted that girls who find themselves in certain situations are in some ways responsible for what befalls them. Being street smart is one thing. But shifting culpability is another entirely. Such a mindset ingrains sexual assault in our culture rather than stigmatizes it.
It would behoove students on this campus here at the beginning of the semester to reflect on this issue.
What are we willing to accept as part of our conduct as students?
