9.17.04 Sexual Assault is No Laughing Matter

If I had to pick one thing that I thought Susquehanna students have learned in the last year, it is that sexual assault is no laughing matter. Last semester, five cases of sexual assault occurred on our campus. Fall semester kicked off with a forum on sexual violence, after which a campaign was launched to raise awareness and end sexual assault.

The following day, I took note of the turquoise ribbon campaign that started on campus.

For almost a week, I thought that our student body was moving towards an environment where people were beginning to understand the severity of what happened last semester and how it will continue to effect us throughout college and even into the “real” world.

I was quickly proven wrong. Walking though the cafeteria only a few short days later, I was disappointed, enraged and disgusted by a comment I overheard. “Sexual violence is cool,” someone said.

My mind raced as I began to question whether any of us have actually learned anything from the “Sexual Violence: Not on MY Watch!” campaign. I am embarrassed to call the unknown cafeteria voice my fellow student. That statement was inappropriate. In fact, it was downright offensive and uneducated. Sexual violence is by no means “cool.” Sexual violence is not all right. Joking about sexual violence is not all right. With respect to the tragedies our campus faced, we, both as individuals and a student body, need to realize this to move forward. Statements like these keep us stagnant and may even move us backward sometimes.

All I ask is that students think twice about why this campaign has started — and what you can do to make it a successful one.

Kelly Jennings - ‘05