Sexual assault survivors challenge universities

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26263171

Sexual assault survivors challenge universities

Young women in America are more at risk of being raped or sexually assaulted while they're at college or university than at any other time in their lives. Now some survivors are demanding change.

It's been six years since the night Julia Dixon was sexually assaulted, but only now is she sharing her story.

She worked hard to get through high school and win a scholarship to the University of Akron, Ohio.

Seven days into her new life away from home, she spent the evening watching YouTube videos with two fellow students.

When she returned to her room, they followed. One of the men left. The other refused to go, and assaulted her.

"My life in college was completely destroyed," she says.

Julia's story is an all-too-common one on American university campuses.

A recent White House report looked at several studies done on the topic and found that one in five American women is the victim of a sex attack during her college days.

Many survivors say the universities themselves are failing to deal with the issue.

President Obama said the situation is "totally unacceptable" and last month launched a task force to tackle the issue.

The president also called on university officials to examine their reporting and support systems. "Are we doing everything that we should be doing?" he asked.

His words rang true for many survivors of college sexual assault, who argue that the universities have brushed the issue under the carpet for too long.

When Julia tried to pursue the case through the university's disciplinary process, she says she was told she'd have to face her assailant at an internal hearing.

"Three days after he raped me I wasn't in any sort of emotional state to be in the vicinity of him, let alone have a conversation with him about what he did," she says.

She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Her grades slipped, resulting in her losing her scholarship.

(continued)

[Audley Strange]

So was it sexual assault rape or both? Anyway, perhaps America should either segregate colleges or get rid of them altogether if the situation is that bad.

[cronus]

It's a hyper-sexualised media that still utilises Freudian clap-trap in the advertising for products.....maybe more, noticed how American porn is sickeningly slick compared with natural raw footage from elsewhere. Nothing enticing for me in their obsession with cheerleader porn....make the Russians seem normal.

[Audley Strange]

No, can't say I've noticed. Perhaps the STEM curricula lean heavily towards patriarchy theory and Rape 101 though.

[cronus]

No, can't say I've noticed. Perhaps the STEM curricula lean heavily towards patriarchy theory and Rape 101 though.

Stats on things like this are likely to be tip of the iceberg, many a word said in jest.

[Audley Strange]

Nah, I'm going to be optimistic and suggest that forced non consensual sex is not as prevalent in U.S. colleges as it may appear, which is always as part of the total sexual assault number, which is to me like conflating terrorism, arson and tagging. I have no doubt that amongst drunken teenagers there is a whole range of sexual activity that goes on which could be and will be considered sexual assault that some of that is serious and some of it inappropriate and some of it mildly uncomfortable. Roll it all together and you get one big ball of alarmist "OMG!".

[FBM]

No, can't say I've noticed. Perhaps the STEM curricula lean heavily towards patriarchy theory and Rape 101 though.

Stats on things like this are likely to be tip of the iceberg, many a word said in jest.

Whatever you do, don't make a joke about it!!

[cronus]

Always a excuse....it's still a man's world.

[Rum]

No, can't say I've noticed. Perhaps the STEM curricula lean heavily towards patriarchy theory and Rape 101 though.

Stats on things like this are likely to be tip of the iceberg, many a word said in jest.

Whatever you do, don't make a joke about it!!

Feministabot lurkings....

[cronus]

No, can't say I've noticed. Perhaps the STEM curricula lean heavily towards patriarchy theory and Rape 101 though.

Stats on things like this are likely to be tip of the iceberg, many a word said in jest.

Whatever you do, don't make a joke about it!!

Feministabot lurkings....

Snipbots....Rum, you've little to fear.

[FBM]

(Unless it's a really good joke, that is. Then PM me.)

[Rum]

Heard the one about Pappa and a bunch of radical feminists on the internet?

[FBM]

Nope. Don't know anything about it.

[mistermack]

I blame the parents.