Aaron Harrison
On Jan. 31, there was another alleged sexual assault on campus. Assuming this accusation is true, it marks the third in as many months. Provost Michael Renner is formulating a “Task Force on Sexual Assault and Coercion.” This is a step in the right direction. I am not a member of this task force, like some of my peers. If I were, however, I would bring up two key points.
The first is the “blame game.” We cannot engage in such worthless arguments. I’m specifically referring to the signs posted all over campus that say things like “the victim is never at fault.” To do so would be tacky, offensive and inept. Regardless of whether people claim such a thing, if you bring the debate to this level, then nothing will change. The argument goes around and around.
This solves nothing. Blame is not the issue. If you want someone to blame, you could really blame everyone involved in the situation. The attacker, the victim, the alcohol suppliers, the witnesses, the establishment the assault occurred in and many other factors which all have a share of the blame. If problems are truly supposed to be solved, blame cannot be part of the debate.
Alcohol is the second issue, which is probably the most important issue to touch on. All of the previous assaults involved alcohol. In fact, if you read the security reports you’ll notice that alcohol is a primary factor in the vast majority of campus incidents, especially the ones involving violence and theft. We cannot ignore alcohol’s relevance in these issues. Alcohol will always exert negative influence over any campus community. It’s simple logic.
I would have two proposals for the new task force to consider. The first would be to ignore all considerations of blame and all rules regarding blame. It will only bog down the discussion. I would suggest focusing on causes of the problem, not how to punish those who commit assault. The second proposal would be to create new rules involving alcohol consumption on campus. I would personally suggest zero tolerance involving public intoxication and underage possession. As a relatively small private institution, it really reflects poorly on us to have so much drinking being displayed and discussed. Being lax on alcohol restrictions is behind a significant number of the crimes on campus. That needs to be addressed.
I think if we can address all these problems, we can find ourselves confronting this issue in a productive and meaningful way and the campus community will be better off.
Harrison is a senior writing major and can be contacted at aaron.harrison@drake.edu.
Zero tolerance is a horrible idea! Why punish people who can drink responsibly because those who don’t behave in ridiculous manners? I find persons to be committing such assaults to be a far more serious crime than underage consumption or possession.
And there is not always alcohol involved in sexual assault. Assuming things makes an….well, you get my drift.
I agree with the first part of this article; petty arguments such as who to blame have no place in intellectual discussions on this topic. However, I disagree with the second part of this article concerning the alcohol. I will agree that alcohol is a major issue at Drake, but it is an issue at schools across the nation. Creating a zero tolerance policy would have little benefit if any on alcohol related incidents. People will still go out and drink, it is the nature of college. If you institute the policy mentioned above, however, you will just encourage people to go wandering around off campus in (what we all know to be) the less than desirable neighborhoods surrounding Drake, creating a potentially more dangerous situation. If I had my druthers, I would take a few broken mirrors and some stolen fire extinguishers over the endangerment of student’s lives.
What exactly is the difference between taking “considerations of blame” and “focusing on causes of the problem”? I don’t see how you can one without the other.
Can someone please explain to me how it is “offensive and inept” to assign blame to rapists for the rapes they commit? Or how the victim is at all responsible for someone raping her? I really don’t get it.
I’m also wondering why it’s wrong to blame rapists? Saying that the victim is to blame is similar to saying it was someone’s fault that they were stolen from.
Anon #1: Zero Tolerance is the best, and most straight-forward solution to the problem of alcohol consumption on campus. It’s sad, but true. There would be little else we could do to curb underage drinking and the crimes that result from such behaviors. And, since alcohol was tied in with at least two sexual assaults, I would say they are linked.
drakestudent: Thank you for agreeing. However, I find it difficult to believe that the banning of alcohol would not solve the problems that you admit alochol causes. If people want to consume alcohol in other places, that’s a risk they have to take, and no one else would have a share in the responsibilty.
So, umm: Blame is not the same as causation. One is for punishment and responsibilty, and the other is for problem solving. Two different levels of the debate.
Drake Student: It is offensive and inept to plaster large signs every where and making it seem like the readers were the ones to feel guilty over the crime. It is offensive and inept to conclude that the vast majority of people assume the vicitm is solely at fault, without having any consideration for what is the debate in reality. It is also offensive and inept to alter my words to suit your agenda. Please stop.
Anon#2: I did not say it was wrong to blame rapists. In fact, I clearly state that there are numerous factors to use if we start blaming people. The rapist was one of them. Do not distort what I say.
Dear Aaron,
The reason “blame” becomes an issue with sexual assault is because often the crime is not taken seriously. People brush it off as a slutty girl who had too much to drink which is why it is considered taboo and often goes unreported.
“If you want someone to blame, you could really blame everyone involved in the situation. The attacker, the victim, the alcohol suppliers, the witnesses, the establishment the assault occurred in and many other factors which all have a share of the blame. If problems are truly supposed to be solved, blame cannot be part of the debate.”
Really? Blame the victim? OK. …then why do the problems have to be solved at all, if everyone is at fault?
Sincerely,
Please do not choose a career in law enforcement or take any type of teaching position.
Anonymous, I can honestly say I have never heard such an anti-victim stance outside of something extremely reactionary, like a Law and Order episode. No reasonable person would insult a rape victim.
Also, I don’t understand your last comment. Just because there are lots of factors, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t problems to solve.
And, here’s a respectful tip: Do not tell anyone else how to live when your own philosophy is clearly so full of holes.
Thank you.
To say that alcohol has been involved in with at least two of the sexual assaults does not mean the alcohol is involved with ALL of sexual assaults that occur on campus/with students. Is there a link? Probably. . If I can sit in my dorm room and drink with some friends (underage mind you) and listen to some music without being ridiculous, why should zero tolerance even be considered? A majority of people can behave themselves while they drink. The offensive and inept minority should be punished. But to punish the majority for the actions of the minority is absolutely ridiculous.
“If you want someone to blame, you could really blame everyone involved in the situation. The attacker, the victim, the alcohol suppliers, the witnesses, the establishment the assault occurred in and many other factors which all have a share of the blame. If problems are truly supposed to be solved, blame cannot be part of the debate.”
Where does the blame fall if alcohol was not involved? Is there still blame for the victim?
I feel your opinion is too narrow-minded and unfair. I second the comment above me when that individual advises you not to get involved with law enforcement or any sort of teaching position.
Anon, You yourself admit that there could be a link between sexual assaults and drinking. We all know there is a link between drinking and crimes of all sorts. Banning drinking on campus grounds and even in the frat houses would put a limit on that. Being drunk on campus should get you expelled and, honestly, how would the student body not be better off? We’ve all been freshmen, and we all have heard the story of the drunk person accidentally entering someone else’s room. It’s frightening and disgusting behavior. Anyone could potentially do this, if they drank in excess. It’s happened to everyone, from seniors to RAs, and that is a fact. Banning alcohol and punishing those who use it is the best and most effective thing to do.
I acknowledge the point about people leaving campus in search of alcohol. But, if someone wants to leave campus and go to an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous neighborhood and enter a potentially dangerous place just to ingest liquor, I would suggest that they seek professional help. That is called alcoholism. Few things are worth the risk, and the search for “fun” is not one of them. There are many on campus activities one could do in lieu of drinking. There are even more off campus activities, in safe places. Consider it. What can you do drunk that you can’t do sober? Can you not listen to music sober? Can you not play video games sober? Can you not dance sober?
Aaron, your blame of alcohol usage being involved in the rape is not only irrelevant but also makes the argument lose all credibility. You take the stance on the sexual assaults as someone who has never been directly affected by rape. People should be able to drink if they so please, even if it’s illegal and not be raped. No matter what is done, rape is never okay, and nothing is to blame but the aggressor. I wonder, would you still have such a narrow minded view if a woman you were close to was raped? The fact of the matter is rape has nothing to do with someone drinking, it has to do with the desire of the rapist to commit the act. Drinking just makes a female more vulnerable, and women should not have to worry about being vulnerable if they have a few drinks. What happens when alcohol is not involved? The situation is the exact same. Narrow minded sexists just like to use alcohol as a scapegoat to hide their own inability to confront rape.
Aaron-
Just because there is a possible link between sexual assaults and other crimes with the addition of alcohol doesn’t mean that alcohol should be banned.
By your logic anyone who has had someone enter their room drunk should have had their door locked. I’ve walked into the wrong room stone cold sober. It happens. This is college-not a jail.
To put drinking on the list of offenses that are reasons for expulsion is absolutely ABSURD! Some people who plagiarize aren’t even expelled. To make drinking worse than plagiarizing is even more than absurd.
Why not punish the people that commit the crimes? If I drink in my dorm room and don’t do anything, but an RA sees me drunkenly walking to the bathroom, why should I be punished so severely? I’m not committing a crime.
Yes, you’re right. You can do plenty of things sober that a lot of people choose to do while drinking. Some people need “liquid encouragement” (this could be to the point of being drunk or having one or two drinks).
I would also ask you to reconsider your definition of an alcoholic. “If someone wants to leave campus and go to an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous neighborhood and enter a potentially dangerous place just to ingest liquor, I would suggest that they seek professional help. That is called alcoholism.” Going to an off campus bar is not alcoholism. Alcoholism is marked by someone that cannot function without alcohol and alcohol affects the daily flow of their life.
The real problem is not alcohol. The real problem is the individuals committing truly reprehensible crimes. I don’t know your personal life, but it sounds like you need to lighten up about drinking.
Anonymous: I don’t see how you don’t see the link between alcohol and assaults. You say yourself that “Drinking just makes a female more vulnerable”. That’s practically an invitation. What other option is there? Banning alcohol will make the campus safer. Everyone will benefit. The more you drink, the more likely you are to commit a crime. It’s that simple.
Also, I cannot believe you are all trying to boil this debate down to “The attacker is the sole cause of the incident”. This is simply untrue. Victims have control over their situation. They can choose not to drink and not be in a place where their physical condition can be abused. Of course, I am just talking about the on-campus situations. You and I both know that does not include particularly vicious assaults that happen for no reason. It is foolish of you to assume that what I am saying applies to all rapes. Also, do not assume things about my personal life. It is rude and unhealthy to this debate.
Anon:
Sorry, I mistyped earlier. I meant, “walking into someone’s room, in the middle of night”. That’s what I was getting at. I apologize for the confusion. Your point of “liquid encouragement” is interesting, because I’m sure that’s what rapists call it when they want to get their victims drunk so they can abuse them.
Also, isn’t another tell-tale sign of an alcoholic that they either spend lots of money on alcohol or that they enter into dangerous situations just to ingest it? Alcohol is not the crux of the problem, but simply a means to an end, and, for some, a tool to commit rapes.
Do you really know what rape is about? It’s not just “o, he/she is vulnerable, I want to take advantage of that.” A rapist will rape no matter what. Some rapists prey on easy targets, and some rapists will rape no matter what. They get their kicks from having a victim fighting them. If someone has one or two drinks while they’re out but somehow a roofie gets put into one of the drinks, is it the victims fault for drinking? What if the victim is at a bar and not even drinking alcohol and gets a roofie put in their Coke or whatever non-alcoholic drink they might be drinking? Is it still their fault? No one goes out to drink thinking they could be sexually assaulted. Why should people have to be constantly fearful? O, wait, because people like you, want to blame them if something happens and not the person that attacks them.
Spending lots of money on alcohol isn’t necessarily a tell-tale sign of an alcoholic. A bottle of Jameson is more expensive then other whiskeys. A bottle of Absolut is more expensive than Hawkeye. If an individual’s spending habits on alcohol affects their ability to pay for other things (i.e.-meals, bills, etc.) then there might be a problem. And what you consider a dangerous situation may not be a dangerous situation for another person. If I choose to go to “The Dublin” over “The Library” because it’s closer to a police station and Drake security, to me ” The Dublin” wouldn’t be a dangerous thing. But you may simply consider being at a bar and ingesting alcohol in any quantity to be a dangerous situation.
*And drinking alcohol IS NOT an invitation to violate my body or anyone else’s in any sort of way!!!! NOTHING IS AN INVITATION! I don’t care if someone is walking home alone at night stone cold sober from their night class or anything else. IT IS NOT AN INVITATION! You blame the attacker! DO NOT make the victim feel worse than they already do!
Anon: I would personally be more afraid of people like you and your ilk, who refuse to hold victims of sexual assault up to their own responsibilities. I fear people like you who find blame in every aspect of the attacker’s character and demeanor and general well-being, but not anything about the victim. That is naive to the extreme. We know little about the latest assault, but we know enough about the previous two to know that the victim’s unfortunate decisions led to the attacks.
Also, your point about the Dublin and the Library? This proves my previous point. If you decide to go somewhere based on the proximity of a police station, then it is probably not a place worth going and it says leaps and bounds about you if you do follow through with such a decision.
I was also unaware that you are an expert into the psychology of a rapist. Where did you do your research on such a topic? Was it your dissertation? Please, tell me more about it.
Also, your last segment? That is simple misdirection. No one has said anything about an “invitation”. You need to stop regurgitating your points and stop engaging me in a semantics debate.
First and foremost, the last segment of my last response was based on your response to another anonymous poster, let me refresh your memmory: “You say yourself that “Drinking just makes a female more vulnerable”. That’s practically an invitation.” Those are your words, and I felt they needed to be addressed.
I have never claimed to be an expert on psychology of rapists or any other person. My opinions comes from having multiple people in my life involved with law enforcement. And the basic things that I have seen all boil down to “if a person wants to commit a crime they will find a way.” And most often, crimes are about power or money. Again, this is what I have seen throughout the years and nothing from textbooks.
It was a hypothetical situation with “The Dublin” and “The Library.” Personally, I don’t care if bar x is closer than bar y to the police station or anything else, but for some people that is being aware of their surroundings.
So what if the victims drank? Plenty of people frequent the bars around campus nearly every day of the week, and not everyone that leaves these bars turn into victims because of a crime. Banning alcohol is not the end all solution, and blaming the victim does nothing either. Blaming the victim already causes enough problems. Do you think that these victims that have come forward don’t feel like they should have done more to prevent it? I’d be willing to bet that they already blame themselves a bit. And people like you that publicly call for others to blame the victim don’t make the environment any better.
I also think there’s a little bit of the pot calling the kettle black when you say I need to stop regurgitating my points.
Aaron, read this- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124052847&ft=1&f=1003
Anon: I fail to see how I’m wrong and I similarly fail to see how you even disagree with me. We all know that alcohol is the cause of the problems. When a person drinks in excess, it makes them vulnerable. This is truth. De’s link essentially proves that. If you are vulnerable, then you are more likely to have a crime committed against you. It is an accurate statement.
You are talking as if you are 100% sure about the mental state of both victims and attackers. That is generalizing, and will not solve problems.
I think the hypothetical situation proves my point. This is exactly what I said would happen if we got into a debate about blame. We would go back and forth and nothing would be solved. Thankfully, this is not the a task force meeting.
I will say this again, because apparently I am being unclear. EVERYONE has to take their share of the blame for these last assaults. The victims drank too much. That is their fault. The attacker attacked them. That is the attacker’s fault. The establishments gave them alcohol. That is the establishment’s fault. I can’t speculate very much on the feelings of the victims, and I refuse to use them for my own personal agenda. If they choose to not come forward and accuse their attackers, that is their fault as well. We live in a world where people are supposed to take responsibility for their actions. You are creating an environment where the victim can just go about their merry way without having learned any lesson. That is far more dangerous than anything I have said.
De-Thanks for the information. This is what is most unfortunate about assault cases. There is rarely enough evidence to convict. It is sad, but if a victim is coherent enough to go immediately to the police, they should do so. But, see what I have said above, and consider both sides.
Alcohol is not the cause of all problems. And the fact that you think alcohol is the cause is ignorant on your part.
And yes, thankfully you and I are not on the task force. Because you would be focusing on alcohol and not the bigger picture of safety on campus. I’m pretty sure even dry campuses have crime issues.
I also read the article De posted. And if you read it, you would have seen that the attacker had previously committed assaults on other students and the system (campus and local law enforcement) failed to keep a threat off the campus.
Anon: I’m pretty sure I never said alcohol was not the prime cause of all the problems in the world. I said it was a factor in these assaults and I said it led to crime, sure. But, I never said want you just said.
I did read the article, and it seems to be an unfortunate incident. However, it really has little bearing on our argument.
Now who wants to get into semantics? By problems, I meant criminal problems, since sexual assault is a criminal act.
And I do think you primarily blame the alcohol since your first and only solution to the problem is banning all alcohol on campus.
How does the article have little bearing? Perpetrators of sexual assault are not always punished to the full extent (if any). And if the perpetrator isn’t punished the law doesn’t do its job, leaving the victim helpless.
Funny how you’ll tell me after I’ve read the article that it has little bearing on our argument, but you say nothing of the sorts to the person posting it.
I’m just responding to what you said, Anon. And, I still have yet to see how I’m wrong when I say alcohol is, at the very least, a cause of the problem.
The article shows one example of someone allegedly getting away with a crime. For all we know, this has not happened here. I’m wary to let it in to the conversation, because we don’t know if the attacker in any of the cases is still here. Also, that article is really poorly written and blatantly one-sided. I’m not really sure we need such a flimsy piece of evidence in this debate.
Also, I’ve already discussed the article with De. You brought it up again, and I responded to you about it. No need to get offended.
So what other solutions do you propose, other than trying to ban alcohol on campus?
Other solutions? Why, I thought you’d never ask. If I had my say, not only would alcohol be banned, but Olmsted would be open 24 hours a day. It would give students a place to be that’s not particularly dangerous. The thing is, we need to give students a reason not to break an anti-alcohol law. Because, if we didn’t, they totally would. Alcohol banning would be the first step. Expanding campus programs and services would be the second. A lot of people seem to think Drake is it’s own little universe where nothing bad can happen. Why can’t we try to make that a reality?
I should not have had to ask for other solutions. And your “solutions” present even more problems….
Where is the money going to come from to keep services in Olmsted going 24 hours since you do have to pay people that work? And how are you going to stop people from bringing alcohol into Olmsted and drinking a mixed drink from a nalgene or other sort of inconspicuous bottle?
Who are you going to get to run these programs? What would these programs be that people would actually want to go to them instead of drinking? How are these programs going to be paid for?
If your answers involving raising fees on students, think again.
If we can waste a couple of thousand dollars on a website that doesn’t exist (looking at you, Rainbow Union) then I’m sure we can have a few extra shifts at SLC, if we just spend money wisely. We don’t even necessarily need a set number of programs in Olmsted. Just a place to be can sometimes be enough. If people are dumb enough to bring alcohol on campus, then they deserve to be expelled. Your questions are rather irrelevant. I’m actively giving solutions to very real problems on campus, and the only thing you can do is be stubborn about it and make boisterous claims about me and that solves nothing. Why don’t you give me a few solutions for this rape problem? You can’t tell me you wouldn’t do something about the alcohol consumption problems.