It is critical this year that all of us in the UW-Madison community come together to prevent sexual assault and the situations that are conducive to it during Halloween. The question is as much one of attitudes, conceptions and perceptions as it is of policy and enforcement.

For many of us at UW, the annual celebration of Halloween on a campus-wide scale offers a much-needed opportunity to escape our regular routine and tap previously undiscovered reserves of creativity in the pursuit of violating — publicly and loudly — the prevailing standards of decency, decorum and common sense. There can be little doubt that this is a good thing.

Unfortunately, it is also the case for many students that that same weekend involves situations and experiences that can range from uncomfortable and unnerving to dangerous and traumatizing. Sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual activity, which are year-round problems for UW, become impossible to ignore during Halloween.

According to the UW-Madison Sexual Assault Study for the year 2002, 20 percent of about 8,000 respondents reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual activity. Acquaintances or friends committed around 62 percent of sexual assaults, and 71 percent consumed alcohol before the assault occurred. A very large number of these incidents occur during Halloween every year.

The issue of sexual assault is widely documented and discussed. The numbers and evidence are there to be seen by anyone who cares to look. The problem we face is not that of keeping track of the problem but helping students understand what the numbers mean and what can be done.

Often, as soon as students hear the statistic regarding alcohol consumption and its relation to sexual assault, they tune out, assuming they will be treated to a shrill polemic on the evils of alcohol. Indeed, alcohol is a main factor in many — indeed most — cases of sexual assault.

But to focus on alcohol consumption is not an effective enough way to address the problem, nor is it a satisfactory account of why sexual assault happens.

Many students believe that sexual assault only happens if you walk down unlit streets late at night or put yourself in similarly unsafe situations. And while such circumstances can lead to sexual assault, it is more often that the attacker is not a knife-wielding stranger but someone that the victim is familiar with or even trusts. Alcohol can certainly be a contributing factor in many of these cases, but the root cause is something else.

Anyone who is sexually active in college, whether or not they’re aware of it, is subject to the rules and definitions of a sexual culture that distorts what could be called “conventional” masculinity and femininity (if indeed there are such things). College sexual culture fosters the mentality that masculine sexuality is, in many ways, a game in which the object is, quite literally, to score.

While it is unlikely a majority of men think of their sexuality in such brazen terms, it is nevertheless the case that for many men, the primary way to construct their sexual identity is to prove to themselves and others that they are capable of getting laid.

In such an environment, it is not hard to see that the pressures exerted by what men and women believe is expected of them sexually often lead to disastrous results.

The insertion of alcohol or other substances into the mix can lead to impairments of judgment and memory that can further facilitate sexual encounters that may be less-than-consensual on both sides. Indeed, it is often the case that one or more of the parties involved may be unable or unwilling to realize that what has taken place actually constitutes sexual assault.

It bears repeating that most assault victims know their assailants. Just because it’s with someone you know doesn’t mean it can’t be sexual assault.

Communication is the essential component of consensuality. Both parties need to pay attention to each other’s verbal and body language, and it is critical to remember that the absence of a “no” does not imply consent.

We should be careful not to demonize men as mere aggressors or to typecast women as helpless victims. A healthy conception of sexuality cannot be built on a foundation of fear and loathing.

Nevertheless, it is attitude change that will be the most effective weapon in the fight against sexual assault and rape. Progress comes one step at a time. We make a step forward every time an individual realizes that what matters in sexuality is not competitive aggression but that “both partners should be happy before, during and after the experience,” as David Corkle, chair of Men Making a Difference, a campus advocacy group that deals with issues of sexual assault, says.

Sex should be an intimate experience in which the satisfaction is shared by two people and not just one.

Call 911 or use a campus emergency phone in the event of any emergency. The Crisis Line of the Dane County Rape Crisis Center is (608) 251-7273. For more information, contact Men Making a Difference at (608) 358-6787, the Campus Women’s Center at (608) 262-8093 and Promoting Awareness and Victim Empowerment (PAVE) at (608) 280-8916.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Rob Hunter ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in philosophy and political science. Special thanks to Eileen Lalor of PAVE and David Corkle and Garrett Ross of MMD for their help.