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ASU Students Weigh In On Localized National Issue

Localizing a national issue to Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus.

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ASU Students Weigh In On Localized National Issue
Hannah Caltabiano

A typical college student tends to look to their social media platforms for the news they get on a daily basis.

Logging on to Yahoo or Twitter first thing in the morning and seeing headlines saying "Third Kavanaugh accuser revealed by Avenatti" or "'Southern Charm' reality star Ravenel charged in sex assault" has seemingly become the norm.

Kavanaugh, Cosby, CEOs, reality stars, teachers and so many more are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Society seems to wake up every morning to a new person being accused, a new person being convicted of sexual assault or harassment.

"It's been normalized to hear about it every day but I think to make it a normality is to say it's okay and it's not," Spencer Stechman, Arizona State University student said. "Hearing new cases every day sheds new light on each case, person and our generation as a whole."

Social media platforms have a direct line to college students and vice versa. Social media gives anyone the ability to get involved, speak what is on one's mind, share stories and connect with others in a much bigger way than ever before.

"College students are very impacted by the media. I think they really look to the media to make decisions on their stances for topics," said Susanna Eckstein, an ASU student. "Personally, I find most of my news via social media or online news publications."

On ASU's downtown Phoenix campus there are more than 15,000 students. On the downtown campus, there are about 4 percent female students and .9 percent of male students who have reported an experience of attempted or completed sexual assault in the previous year.

The downtown Phoenix campus has a radio platform in which students are able to create shows that themselves and others may be interested in. The platform is known as Blaze Radio, giving students experience and a voice.

This week the Blaze Radio Show, the Sophomore Slump, was coincidentally dedicating their weekly Friday morning show to talk about sexual harassment on college campus'. The hosts invited me to sit in and listen to the conversation.

"Today we will be discussing a topic that may be sensitive to some but we feel it is extremely important to discuss, due to the movements and the conversations that have been circulating our news and our society," said Abigail Shipley, ASU downtown student and Blaze Radio host.

In the 30-minute segment, the hosts' talked about the prominence of sexual assault and how "it is being talked about now more than ever" in our society.

"A part of victims being more comfortable with sharing their story is that we are holding people accountable," said Heather Cumberledge, an ASU student and Blaze Radio host.

According to the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN, 11.2 percent of all students experience rape or sexual assault. The organization also states that "only 20 percent of female student victims, age 18-24, report to law enforcement".

"I would like to see more communication on everyone's part. I think it's a huge aspect on cases, especially when the result is an assault," said Brook Miller, an ASU student and Blaze Radio host.

Media coverage on topics such as sexual assault is said to have a large impact on the "knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors" of the public according to INSPQ. Due to the phenomenon of social media, anyone can say anything, at any time, anywhere.

"I think right now is a coming out period," Stechman said. "All you need is one person to say, 'I've had enough' and take a stand. "

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