Jess Neary Full Draft

** I posted this Sunday but it wasn't showing up tonight!**

Jess Neary

Op-Ed Full Draft

3/10/12

            The campus is empty, the sun has fallen behind the mountains and suddenly everything is eerily quiet. For a young woman who is unable to protect herself, walking home under these conditions suddenly becomes a daunting task. Although the recent rape cases happened off campus at the international residence housing, the idea of rape still haunts those when they are vulnerable, regardless of their location. What could the recent rape victims have done to prevent what happened to them?

            In 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice reported 191,670 victims of rape, and that’s not counting the unreported cases.  Although President Engstrom and the campus have taken the initiative after the initial incidents, more could have been done, especially since there were nine other cases during the fall semester. The two most recent victims, who both reported to have been sexually assaulted by an international student on February 10, stated that they did not know the proper procedures in order to convict their attacker, and did not report him to the police in time for them to catch him before he left the country.

On February 10, the first student (Student One) went to the suspect’s house as an alleged “acquaintance,” and was forced to drink something that caused her to lose the ability to properly move her limbs. The next thing she remembered was waking up in her dorm room. Friends in her dorm reported of finding her unconscious in the hallway and proceeded to put her in her room. The second student (Student Two), went to the same residence, followed the same steps as the first student, and proceeded to be raped. She escaped out the window when the man fell asleep and the drugs she had taken wore off.

Their first mistake was to go to Public Safety, who filed the complaint as an alcohol charge and Student Two being forced into a vehicle. Public Safety forwarded the report to the city attorney’s office to seek input on whether there was enough evidence to move forward with a charge. The office said there wasn’t enough evidence.

According to the Kaimin, on February 14, the Dean of Students received this report and contacted Student Two by phone. But it wasn’t until February 17 that a meeting was scheduled between them, and Student Two brought Student One with her. Once the meeting took place, the cases began to be handled as sexual assaults. The University took the necessary steps of informing the community with an email, which is where the police found the information. The Dean of Students also informed the “suspect” and his attorney of the allegations.

The second problem was the fact that they did not come out with the sexual assault charges until a week after the incident, slowing down the process for proper procedure by the University and the police. The first report only stated that Student Two was forced into a vehicle, rather than telling the full story of the actual rape.

In a story by the Kaimin, Mayor Engen stated that, “If you talk to Public Safety, if you talk to an administrator, that’s fine. But call 911.” If 911 had been the first step, the perpetrator could have been taken into custody within 24 hours, rather than fleeing the country and never being convicted.

So what should have happened? If these situations could have been handled in the proper fashion, what should the victims have done?

According to womensjustice.com, a rape victim should “never rely on work, church, union, or housing officials to handle the investigation.” These institutions can possibly damage a criminal investigation and do not have the power or authority to carry out the investigation or have the power to arrest.  Another point made was that oftentimes there is a serious conflict of interest that can favor the rapist because the rape had something to do with their institution. The site emphasizes victims to rely on the police and court systems to handle these situations.

As stated before, the victims should have dialed 911. According to aaets.org, the site for American Academy for Traumatic Stress, the emergency staff would then be able to do a physical examination to solidify evidence of the rape. This examination is supposed to asses physical injuries and evidence for court proceedings. All clothing would be sent to a crime lab for further testing.  

After the immediate steps, the victims should have plenty of emotional support with friends and support groups such as Students Against Sexual Assault (SARC). Students One and Two are still afraid to leave their rooms and are escorted by friends across campus and are “struck with fear” every time a car the same color as their assailants drives past.

These traumatic events could have been handled more efficiently, and the victims, as well as the community, could have felt more at peace after the rapist was arrested.

In the future, use common sense. Women should carry a whistle or pepper spray somewhere that is easily accessible whenever they are alone. Use the buddy system. Regardless of gender, students should always let friends know where they are or where they are going. Don’t take drinks from anyone don’t trust. And if something does happen, call 911 as soon as possible and use the support of friends and family to take the necessary steps.

Being aware of this information, whether you are a victim or know someone who is, will help bring down the percentage of rapes and sexual assaults on campuses. And the next time the campus is dark and foreboding, women don’t have to feel completely helpless.