-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Got rape?
Archive
Comments
Story
When it comes to college rape, controlling our behavior and understanding the consequences is the only solution to such a controversial issue. The question of consent is the only determining factor of what defines rape; understanding consent is where the confusion begins.
The Boise State University Women’s Center is proactively educating the student body through a program called “Got Consent;” I couldn’t think of a better name. While the issue of rape needs to be addressed, as a male, I find the answers to my questions insufficient. I am not referring strictly to the Women’s Center, but society’s reaction to such an important issue as well. All sexually active people should know the boundaries set at the state and university level before doing the deed.
According to BSU’s policy on consent for sexual activity, consent cannot be given by someone who is intoxicated. While I understand this, I do not agree with it. It is a dangerous and vague definition of a very serious crime. Frankly, it scares me. Booze and sex, while once a favored college past time, are now a breeding ground for disaster.
How many college students participate in sexual activity while they are intoxicated? According to factsontap.org, more than 70 percent of college students admit to having sex under the influence of alcohol. With such a high number, shouldn’t we deny the premise that 70 percent of students are raping each other? Is it still rape if both members consent while intoxicated or is this a conundrum? I understand this definition is meant to push youth away from the dangerous mix of alcohol and sex, but it doesn’t offer a realistic solution to the problem.
As far as consent is concerned, I believe the problem falls on the mixture of sex and alcohol. Collegedrinkingprevention.gov reports that more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18-24 report being a victim of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. Four hundred thousand students admitted to engaging in unsafe sex under the influence, and 100,000 of those admitted to being too intoxicated to consent in the first place. The common trait among these occurrences is the intoxication factor.
We should proactively be educating students on the dangers of drinking alcohol.
Icasa.org indicates that 48.8 percent of women who met one study’s definition of rape did not agree the act was rape. It seems setting the standard that a woman who is under the influence of alcohol cannot consent to sex, and is being raped if she does, sets a rule that is not always true.
The specific issue I’m referring to is the incorporation of alcohol and sex. In order to resolve the problems at hand, we need to set clear and realistic definitions of what is rape and what it isn’t.
GABE MURPHY
Opinion Writer
