Colleges care immensely about impressions of their campuses to the expense of some of their students. Amy Becker reports in her article “91 Percent of Colleges Reported Zero Incidents of Rape in 2014” that of 11,000 campuses, 91 percent disclosed zero reports of rape in 2014. This appears as a wonderful statistic however it fails to match with research, campus surveys, or experiences reported by college students. In 2013, the Congress authorized the act Violence Against Women Act to address domestic and dating violence, as well as stalking. This act collected reports of sexual violence from schools only to find these schools failed to rise to the purpose of the act (Becker). For many survivors, school is their greatest resource for safety
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Once colleges hold themselves responsible for the safety of their students, change will follow. The current attitude to the problem, ignoring reports, shaming of victims, and unwillingness to take action against the accused contributes to making campuses unsafe, hostile environments. As institutions of higher learning, colleges themselves can take action to combat the ceaseless issue of sexual violence. According to Michele Antoinette Paludi in her book Sexual Harassment on College Campuses : Abusing the Ivory Power, education offers the best solution to the root of the problem. Firstly, policies and procedure to ensure proper reports that involves students, administrators, and community starts to cut away at the outermost issue on campuses (Becker). The proper handling of sexual assault creates a safe and reassuring place for victims and other students. The solution to the problem however goes deeper. Addressing sexual violence through education of all people allows for a further understanding of the issue overall. Eliza Grey states in her article “University Survey Highlights Role of ‘Verbal Coercion’ in Sexual Assault” that when cultural perspective changes, the ways of thinking and interaction transform. The University of Michigan currently puts their own students in educational training to create healthy sexual relationships available to all students. The …show more content…
The problematic views on the nature of sexual activity surrounds one constantly. Themes of sexism and sexual violence in mainstream media and American culture forms toxic ideals that frame the issue of sexual violence. Reforming entertainment to stop the sexual objectification of women and the dismissing men breaks down rape culture. Once people stop perceiving sexual assault as okay, the solution reaches further into the problem (Madden). Next, like any other crime, the perpetrator remains at fault. Placing the fault of sexual assault on the victim only furthers the problem, promoting unhealthy ideals that heavily affect both men and women. A proper system of justice allows victims to come forward, safely without the fear of blame; destroying the notion that sexual assault holds little punishment for perpetrators. Schools recognizing the problem and working toward a solution using education helps more than it injures. Colleges worry more over their reputation than students; however, a college that educates students on this issue in the long run obtains a better one. Projects currently in the works to prevent sexual assault include government programs such as The Not Alone project, which strives to break silence and reclaim justice, and It’s On Us, an education campaign which focuses on sexual assault awareness (“The Realities of Sexual Assault On Campus”). Future generations of
Once colleges hold themselves responsible for the safety of their students, change will follow. The current attitude to the problem, ignoring reports, shaming of victims, and unwillingness to take action against the accused contributes to making campuses unsafe, hostile environments. As institutions of higher learning, colleges themselves can take action to combat the ceaseless issue of sexual violence. According to Michele Antoinette Paludi in her book Sexual Harassment on College Campuses : Abusing the Ivory Power, education offers the best solution to the root of the problem. Firstly, policies and procedure to ensure proper reports that involves students, administrators, and community starts to cut away at the outermost issue on campuses (Becker). The proper handling of sexual assault creates a safe and reassuring place for victims and other students. The solution to the problem however goes deeper. Addressing sexual violence through education of all people allows for a further understanding of the issue overall. Eliza Grey states in her article “University Survey Highlights Role of ‘Verbal Coercion’ in Sexual Assault” that when cultural perspective changes, the ways of thinking and interaction transform. The University of Michigan currently puts their own students in educational training to create healthy sexual relationships available to all students. The …show more content…
The problematic views on the nature of sexual activity surrounds one constantly. Themes of sexism and sexual violence in mainstream media and American culture forms toxic ideals that frame the issue of sexual violence. Reforming entertainment to stop the sexual objectification of women and the dismissing men breaks down rape culture. Once people stop perceiving sexual assault as okay, the solution reaches further into the problem (Madden). Next, like any other crime, the perpetrator remains at fault. Placing the fault of sexual assault on the victim only furthers the problem, promoting unhealthy ideals that heavily affect both men and women. A proper system of justice allows victims to come forward, safely without the fear of blame; destroying the notion that sexual assault holds little punishment for perpetrators. Schools recognizing the problem and working toward a solution using education helps more than it injures. Colleges worry more over their reputation than students; however, a college that educates students on this issue in the long run obtains a better one. Projects currently in the works to prevent sexual assault include government programs such as The Not Alone project, which strives to break silence and reclaim justice, and It’s On Us, an education campaign which focuses on sexual assault awareness (“The Realities of Sexual Assault On Campus”). Future generations of