2008 Woodie Awards
In Case of Emergency...
Part One in a Series on Sexual Assault
Regina Pynn
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Campus Life
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In Case of Emergency
Part One in a Series on Sexual Assault
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a woman is raped every two minutes in America. The American Association of University Women says as many as twenty-five percent of women are raped during their college careers. Sexual assault is a serious issue and the goal of this series is to increase awareness and education.
The More You Know
First of all, sexual assault is a legal term which includes a wide range of sexual activities, not only rape. It protects acts such as unwanted penetration of the vagina or anus with a body part or foreign object, stalking and sexual harassment which can be a degree of sexual assault. Many people who have been sexually assaulted hide it because they are not sure if what happened to them was a criminal act.
Sexual assault is generally considered a women's issue. However, men are also victims of sexual assault and rape. Studies report that about ten-percent of all victims are male. The challenges faced by male victims of sexual assault are made more difficult by the social perception that all sexual assault victims are female. Most legal documents about sexual assault use gender-neutral terms for the victim and the actor, who is the person performing the assault.
It is important to understand that no person who experiences a sexual attack deserves it or asked for it to happen to them. Sexual assault and rape are never about lust or love and are always about gaining power over the victim. Even if the victim is intoxicated or otherwise limited in their decision making abilities, it is never acceptable to take advantage of a person. A victim should never be afraid of seeking necessary legal and medical attention. Sergeant Jimmy Collins of the Stevens Police Force expressed concern over the lack of attention paid to two types of sexual assault: domestic violence and date rapes involving the use of alcohol or drugs.
A fourteen year veteran of the Stevens Police Force, Sgt. Collins noted that increased female enrollment has increased the potential for boyfriend-girlfriend violence at Stevens. According to the Hudson County Prosecutors office, a "victim of domestic violence" is a legal adult who has been subjected to domestic violence by a spouse, former spouse, or a person with whom the victim has had a dating relationship. The domestic violence assailant must be over the age of eighteen or emancipated at the time of the offense.
Part One in a Series on Sexual Assault
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a woman is raped every two minutes in America. The American Association of University Women says as many as twenty-five percent of women are raped during their college careers. Sexual assault is a serious issue and the goal of this series is to increase awareness and education.
The More You Know
First of all, sexual assault is a legal term which includes a wide range of sexual activities, not only rape. It protects acts such as unwanted penetration of the vagina or anus with a body part or foreign object, stalking and sexual harassment which can be a degree of sexual assault. Many people who have been sexually assaulted hide it because they are not sure if what happened to them was a criminal act.
Sexual assault is generally considered a women's issue. However, men are also victims of sexual assault and rape. Studies report that about ten-percent of all victims are male. The challenges faced by male victims of sexual assault are made more difficult by the social perception that all sexual assault victims are female. Most legal documents about sexual assault use gender-neutral terms for the victim and the actor, who is the person performing the assault.
It is important to understand that no person who experiences a sexual attack deserves it or asked for it to happen to them. Sexual assault and rape are never about lust or love and are always about gaining power over the victim. Even if the victim is intoxicated or otherwise limited in their decision making abilities, it is never acceptable to take advantage of a person. A victim should never be afraid of seeking necessary legal and medical attention. Sergeant Jimmy Collins of the Stevens Police Force expressed concern over the lack of attention paid to two types of sexual assault: domestic violence and date rapes involving the use of alcohol or drugs.
A fourteen year veteran of the Stevens Police Force, Sgt. Collins noted that increased female enrollment has increased the potential for boyfriend-girlfriend violence at Stevens. According to the Hudson County Prosecutors office, a "victim of domestic violence" is a legal adult who has been subjected to domestic violence by a spouse, former spouse, or a person with whom the victim has had a dating relationship. The domestic violence assailant must be over the age of eighteen or emancipated at the time of the offense.
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