A survey of students attending the University of Michigan shows that 20 percent of undergraduate women have been touched, kissed, or sexually assaulted without their consent. This staggering statistic has been mentioned in countless news scandals referring to rape allegations at college universities across the country. Although rape is considered to be the primary problem, there are many other violations such as verbal abuse, sexual pressure, and unwarranted touching. Because of these threats, women are fearful to walk alone on campus. Unfortunately, it is challenging to find a reasonable punishment for offenders. Because of this difficulty, many universities have been under scrutiny based upon how they control these issues. Women attending
…show more content…
Traditional classes were initially brief and informational; however, they are ineffective at preventing sexual misconduct from happening on college campuses. Some schools, such as Elon University in North Carolina, are requiring students to take an online course about the ethics of a relationship and the effects of alcohol before they even reach campus. Many other universities are ramping up their programs, where students are required to take a whole course about sexual misconduct. These classes cover a broad variety of subjects such as what constitutes sexual misconduct, how to prevent the consumption of date rape drugs, and how to defend yourself against an attacker (“University Survey”). Informational courses not only educate all students on the importance of appropriate sexual behavior, but they also provide a sense of security to the women on campus. Giving females the opportunity to learn how to defend themselves is something a university needs to offer in order to make them feel safe in an unfamiliar environment. In addition, the classes will provide ground rules for what is considered appropriate sexual behavior and what is crossing the line into sexual misconduct. If someone breaks these expectations, any arguments they may have will become invalid since they have taken courses explaining the rules in advance. Since clear standards and guidelines are …show more content…
Unfortunately, some rape cases on college campuses do not result in clear punishment of the accused. The case of Beckett Brennan is an example of this. Brennan was a college freshman at the University of Pacific where she played basketball. She ended up getting a ride from two men on the basketball team at Pacific when things went horribly wrong. Instead of driving her to a party, which was where she was planning to go, they took her to an empty bedroom and sexually assaulted her. That night, three different men violated Brennan all while she asked, “Why are you doing this to me?” (“The Case”). Eventually, the three men responsible for raping her were found guilty of violating school policy against sexual assault. However, their punishments varied. Steffan Johnson, who claimed he was not there, was expelled. Michael Nunnelly admitted to having sex with Brennan but claimed it was consensual. This resulted in a one year suspension. Michael Kirby, who also claimed that it was consensual sex, was only suspended for one
Traditional classes were initially brief and informational; however, they are ineffective at preventing sexual misconduct from happening on college campuses. Some schools, such as Elon University in North Carolina, are requiring students to take an online course about the ethics of a relationship and the effects of alcohol before they even reach campus. Many other universities are ramping up their programs, where students are required to take a whole course about sexual misconduct. These classes cover a broad variety of subjects such as what constitutes sexual misconduct, how to prevent the consumption of date rape drugs, and how to defend yourself against an attacker (“University Survey”). Informational courses not only educate all students on the importance of appropriate sexual behavior, but they also provide a sense of security to the women on campus. Giving females the opportunity to learn how to defend themselves is something a university needs to offer in order to make them feel safe in an unfamiliar environment. In addition, the classes will provide ground rules for what is considered appropriate sexual behavior and what is crossing the line into sexual misconduct. If someone breaks these expectations, any arguments they may have will become invalid since they have taken courses explaining the rules in advance. Since clear standards and guidelines are …show more content…
Unfortunately, some rape cases on college campuses do not result in clear punishment of the accused. The case of Beckett Brennan is an example of this. Brennan was a college freshman at the University of Pacific where she played basketball. She ended up getting a ride from two men on the basketball team at Pacific when things went horribly wrong. Instead of driving her to a party, which was where she was planning to go, they took her to an empty bedroom and sexually assaulted her. That night, three different men violated Brennan all while she asked, “Why are you doing this to me?” (“The Case”). Eventually, the three men responsible for raping her were found guilty of violating school policy against sexual assault. However, their punishments varied. Steffan Johnson, who claimed he was not there, was expelled. Michael Nunnelly admitted to having sex with Brennan but claimed it was consensual. This resulted in a one year suspension. Michael Kirby, who also claimed that it was consensual sex, was only suspended for one