It seems, lately, that every single headline in the newspaper pertains to sexual assault. I think I speak for many when I conclude that this is a problem. Although I refuse to be referred to as naíve, I do understand how easy it is to let your guard down and feel a false sense of security.

I had my own experience with sexual harassment a few nights ago. My roommate and I were at the Union studying, and while we were minding our own business, a highly intoxicated man came up to me and grabbed me from behind in a bear-hug like fashion and he put his face up to my neck as if to kiss me and I felt his beer-breath as he started to mumble nonsense in my ear.

Then he sat down next to me, even though he was not offered any indication that he was invited, and he started to chat away, mostly with himself. At first this normal-looking young man was a bit of comic relief from our studies, but after a few minutes the situation became less of a laughing matter. He started grabbing my leg and I consistently removed his hand.

Over and over he repeatedly tried to reach for me, and again and again I would tell him to stop. When he grabbed my head and wouldn’t let me go after I used physical force and told him to stop, it was the last straw. The bartenders on duty came over to our table and asked him to leave. When he angrily refused, the police were called, and even after their arrival, this man continued to be uncontrollable and uncompromising.

After a 30-minute display of sheer rage by this man, the two original officers and the two that were called in for backup held him down long enough to get him strapped into the back of the squad car.

I would just like to thank the Madison police department, who never receive enough praise for all the good they do in this community. Whether it be breaking up boisterous Halloween riots while being subjected to rowdy, disrespectful students shouting “F-ck the police” or declining to give drinking tickets in instances such as the Mifflin block party where you can get your picture taken with one hand clinging to a beer and the other wrapped around a cop, police officials do not get the credit they deserve for protecting the citizens of this town.

I would also like to thank the two individual bartenders that had the sense to intervene and handle the situation with complete grace and professionalism. I take this as a lesson to be more aware of my surroundings because now I know that this world is not as safe as I thought it to be.

Even though my predicament was only mildly offensive, there have obviously been much worse occurrences taking place frequently around this campus lately. I encourage everyone to think twice before walking alone at night or talking to that stranger in a bar, because I have learned, amongst many others who have had similar or worse experiences of harassment, that even the nicest person can turn out to be a monster that needs to be restrained by four officers.

Jennifer Ondrejicka ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in journalism.