Mexican Valium, Roofies, Cherry Meth, Liquid Ecstasy, and Psychedelic Heroin:
Sound unfamiliar? These are just a few of the street nicknames given to the most common drugs associated with sexual assault: Rohypnol, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and Ketamine. These club drugs are often void of color, smell and taste, and can sometimes completely erase memory while under the influence.
They are extremely potent and dangerous, but there is another, more easily attainable culprit in assisting sexual assault that might not seem as threatening. Alcohol, according to womenshealth.gov, is the substance most commonly used to help commit sexual assault. Although it is great to have fun, it is most important to be aware and remain safe.
College textbooks are undoubtedly heavy, but an enormous weight of worries can also be placed upon students’ shoulders. Maintaining good grades or paying for school expenses, among other things, might put unwanted pressure on your mind. Finding ways to alleviate that stress, or at least forgetting about it for a while is a want that many of us experience at the end of the day.
Stress relief or the curiosity for new experiences without having to answer to overprotective parents might draw students to parties. It’s college, right? The sense of newfound freedom that comes with college life is a wonderful feeling, but being able to control oneself with that freedom is crucial to staying safe in potentially hazardous situations.
In 1986, Jeanne Clery, a freshman at Lehigh University, was found dead in her dorm room. After discovering that Clery had been raped, sodomized, beaten, strangled and mutilated, a passion ignited in her parents and the Clery Act was legislated.
The Clery Act, according to the Clery Center website “requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.”
All Clery Act Statistics can be found on the Shepherd University Police Department website.
The SU Interpersonal Violence Resource Center also provides useful definitions, reporting options, and several other resources to aide and inform students. Its website states that “sexual assault is an act of interpersonal violence that occurs at alarming numbers on college campuses.”
Even though there are national and local statistics of reported assaults, Rhonda Jackson, a counselor at Shepherd, believes that sexual assault is a highly underreported crime. Sexual assault is not an offense that affects one type of person. Susceptible victims can be male, female, straight, gay, bisexual or transgender. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that students know what can happen on a college campus. Naivety isn’t going to make realistic situations disappear. Being aware of your surroundings is a way to make your partying experience enjoyable without being careless or vulnerable.
It might be simple for a person to turn a blind eye when others could be in danger. People might think it isn’t their problem or that a person should be able to take care of themselves. They may shy away not knowing how to intervene. I might feel the same way, but you could be a potential victim’s final thread of hope.
“The absolute best tool we have to preventing sexual assault is bystander intervention,” said Jackson.
Be smart. Never leave your drink unattended. Running to the bathroom thinking you won’t be long? It doesn’t matter. Even if you know the majority of the people in attendance at a party, don’t share drinks and don’t drink from a community punch bowl. It’s just bad news.
Stay aware of how intoxicated you are, even if that means taking a step back from the situation and analyzing your actions. Bring a friend and help each other remain cautious. College can be fun if you allow it to be. Be aware of things that might happen and if they do, don’t be afraid to tell someone.
IMPORTANT RESOURCES (Create a Side Bar):
Shenandoah Women’s Center: 304-263-8522
The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National network) Online Hotline: www.rainn.org
SU Counseling Services 304-876-5276
SU Health Center 304-876-5161