DePauw Men: It's Time To Address Sexual Assault | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

DePauw Men: It's Time To Address Sexual Assault

We can't allow complacency any longer.

45
DePauw Men: It's Time To Address Sexual Assault
Wystan / Flickr

This week at DePauw University, Code TEAL is hosting a large-scale panel discussion focused on sexual assault and will be featuring members of the Interfraternity Council. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Code TEAL, we are a student-led organization that raises awareness of sexual assault on campus, promotes survivor advocacy, and encourages discussion on this issues (this may help explain why most of my articles cover these subjects). But let us return back to the subject of the panel discussion; this event is geared toward college men. Not every house has mandated that each member attend, and this fact leaves me with conflicting feelings. While I'm glad that most people aren't being forced or incentivized to go to our event, I do worry about the ones who will choose to stay home because they don't think this is an event they should attend. And to be honest, I don't know what people will do.

The last time Code TEAL hosted a major talk focused on men's role in sexual assault, we had one fraternity in attendance, despite numerous invitations to all houses, and I certainly wasn't the only one who expressed frustration at the apparent disregard to the issue of campus rape (the link to this story is here). I remember what most of the defensive arguments stated:

"But Christina, you can't put this all on men. A lot of us aren't even the rapists."

"Stop blaming this whole issue on men."

"Well, we had homework."

Oh, we are well aware that most men aren't rapists and offenders. But according to the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, approximately 99% of perpetrators in single-victim incidents are male, which seems to indicate that this is a male-dominated crime. Even if you as a male are not the one violating others, you stand as a role model for other males. As for the homework excuse, I would have liked to believe that you would take an hour out of your schedule to come listen to how you can help rid our campus of a legitimately serious issue. But, the choice was still yours.

As was stated by one of DePauw's professors, "What kinds of actions were [men] taking to address the problem of sexual assault? Were they organizing demonstrations, sit ins, and other events on campus against sexual violence that I wasn’t aware of?...Or is sexual assault so prevalent in our culture that students are complacent, and sexual assault is just background noise that takes a back seat to other problems?" I am challenging all DePauw men to attend the Code TEAL panel discussion this week. We can no longer allow complacency with regards to something so detrimental and severe as sexual assault.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

193443
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

16791
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459303
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27436
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments