EDITORIAL Educate to end sexual harassment winter formal dance. The end of the email stated “discuss with your teen appropriate attire for dance and what it may suggest to other students to dress inappropriately in such a setting.” In a rush to put out a Winter Formal announcement, the assistant principals quoted an email from years prior without thoroughly proof-reading, according to Principal Liz Seabury. Once the email reached the public, the Drake W hy do Drake students attend dances? To have fun? To work up a sweat? Probably not to be sexually assaulted. Yet, based on reports from other students, sexual harassment is commonplace at Drake dances. The Drake administration is fully aware of this epidemic but seems complacent about taking effective action. After the recent Winter Formal dance, a female student reported an act of sexual assault that occured on the dance floor. Seabury stated that the victim, following her assault, reported it to the administration. The administration then told the victim’s family and got the police involved. While this is the seemingly correct course of action, it will likely prove ineffective in preventing future assaults at school functions. The assaulter is now identified and expelled. Past perpetrators, though, remain unknown and walk free, just like the other 95.4 percent of assaulters. A recent email from assistant principals Chad Stuart and Nate Severin detailed important information about the upcoming administration realized their mistake but failed to correct it. Seabury stated that this act of victim shaming was a mistake on the part of the administration. However, the wording suggests harassment at the dance is the fault of the victim and their family. Embedded in society, excuses such as “boys will be boys,” “it’s just their hormones,” and “they can’t help it,” pardon boys and men from actions as serious as sexual assault. The response to this attitude is often to oppress women, in order to suppress male urges. Dress codes demonstrate how women are forced to adjust to standards put in place by men, and for men. For example, White Hill Middle School prohibits visible bra straps. Restrictions like this oversexualize a clothing item primarily meant for female comfort. In an effort to curb Drake’s sexual assault cases, consent week appears twice a year to remind students that no means no. In the past couple years at Drake, Peer Resource has banded together to ensure the safety of students at dances. Wearing glow sticks around their wrists and necks, students can easily approach them and report inappropriate behavior. Quite frankly, consent week and While glowsticks do not actively prevent any occurences of sexual assault. education is the only way to prevent assault statistics from increasing, Drake lacks substantial effort. A few posters around campus and Pirate TV announcements clearly do not get the message across. Seabury lamented that nothing was done to ensure acts of sexual assault would not occur again on the Drake dance floor. “To me, it’s very serious and I’m super worried. What do we do?” The fact that a principal is drowning in worry but doesn’t act is powerful. If not the principal of the school, who else is going to take the initiative? Year after year, day after day, minute after minute, sexual assault cases occur. They happen in places believed to be safe: school, work, sports, and more. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network), an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds. Out of 1000 sexual assault cases in America, 230 will be reported, 46 will lead to arrest, nine will be referred to prosecutors, five will lead to a felony conviction, and 4.6 will be incarcerated. One thousand cases, each one destructive to a victim’s life, and only 0.46 percent of assaulters are brought to justice, according to RAINN. Statistics like these show the reality of what it’s like to be a victim of sexual assault. As perpetrators freely walk the streets, able to commit the same criminal act again and again, the victim lives in fear. The administration must take strong action and implement measures to prevent these cases from recurring in our schools. Consent education must begin when children learn about their puberty. The teachings must continue each year until high school graduation (not just one semester of social issues). They must continue to be taught and emphasized in the workplace. Education is the key to consent. bodies and 16
18 Publizr Home