OPINION & EDITORIAL
Sexual assault awareness outlasts April
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by Angela Rose
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
As April draws to a close, many seniors (myself included) are excited about commencement, and many students are eager for the summer to begin. I would like to take you back, however, to reflect on the meaning of April. This month was my final Sexual Assault Awareness Month celebration as an undergraduate at UW. Thanks to Erica Tietz, ASM campus safety coordinator, there was a strong coalition formed of many campus community organizations that are working on the issue.
The movement in opposing sexual violence often feels like an uphill battle because it is such a silent crime. Sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the United States, and many people would rather suffer silently than voice their hurt and anger. This is due to the fact that sex crimes are very misunderstood, and it is a humiliating crime that affects many aspects of one?s life. I know because I?m a survivor.
Although it was a stranger who abducted me at knifepoint and assaulted me, we know most perpetrators of rapes and sexual assaults are someone who the victim knows. Often times, it is someone whom they trust, whether it is a friend, lover or family member. Moreover, in the majority of cases, no weapon is used. There are many forms of coercion perpetrators use to get what they want. It can cause a great deal of guilt for the survivor because we live in a victim-blaming society.
At the trial for my court case, I was asked what I was wearing at the time of the abduction. I was wearing a brown pants suit because I was leaving my job. If I had been wearing a tight, revealing dress, does that justify an assault? No
On the night I was assaulted, I went to the police station and was not believed by the detective. Even though I had visible injuries, he didn?t believe my story and asked if I were in an abusive relationship. Please note that this did not happen in Madison; it was in a suburb of Chicago. One of the pieces of legislation that we supported through PAVE was a bill to prohibit the use of a lie detector test in the police station on a victim of sexual assault in Wisconsin. I don?t want to hinder anyone from reporting to the police; we need to raise the report rate. I want to increase awareness of how misunderstood these crimes are in our society.
Alcohol is a factor in many sexual assaults, especially on a college campus. We must be clear that alcohol does not cause rape. It plays a role because it grays boundaries and communication is hindered. Another bill we worked very hard on through PAVE and MOSA was the proposed law to include alcohol as an intoxicant for sexual assault. Rep. Terese Berceau introduced it in September and it was stuck in the committee until the end of the legislative session, so it was never given a public hearing. This was in spite of the letters and phone calls urging the head of the committee to hear it. We thank Chancellor Wiley for his support of this bill.
Every person?s experience with sexual assault is different because every person?s situation is unique. There are many social and cultural barriers affecting different groups of people in dealing with sex crimes. We need to support each other and believe every victim. I bid you all farewell and I want to thank everyone who has helped me in the opportunity of working and coalition building in the movement to oppose sexual assault. Thanks to all of the PAVE and MOSA leaders, especially the chair, Dana Borowski, for her dedication. Also, I thank Lori Henn for her guidance. Our sincere thanks to the Campus Women?s Center for choosing PAVE as one of the recipients of the money raised at ?The Vagina Monologues.? A portion of the grant money will be used to create materials to nationally market our nonprofit educational video documentary.
Every day I proudly wear my purple ribbon as a silent remembrance of all of the survivors, and I use my voice to shout chants at Take Back the Night. These things should not end with the close of April. We need to continue the movement in opposing sexual assault in our everyday lives. Every person knows a sexual assault survivor; they are our friends and family members. It can happen to anyone.
Please educate yourself on the prevalence of sexual assault and rape. It is essential to pay attention to news stories, support legislation, or just start conversations about it. It is crucial to use your voice, even if it is soft and wavering. Help pave the way for survivors of sexual violence.
Angela Rose (winowpresident@yahoo.com,www.HelpPaveTheWay.org) is a senior majoring in sociology. She is the founder of PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) & MOSA (Men Opposing Sexual Assault). She is also the president of Wisconsin NOW.
