<p>The first link provides background; the second is the article.</p>
<p>Angie</a> Epifano, Amherst Rape Survivor: Reaction To Op-Ed On Sexual Assault Was 'Overwhelming'</p>
<p>Kudos to Ms. Bolger. That is a very thoughtful analysis of the SMOC report which is an interesting read. Amherst should worry more about getting rid of rapists, or preventing them from becoming rapists, than building event space without nooks and crannies where rape may be made easier. That part of the report was a head-shaker to me.</p>
<p>Personally, I think the best prevention would be for colleges to stop coddling the criminals in their midst. (I’ve written a letter to that effect to my alma mater which has experienced a massive number of rapes in recent years. At least they’ve expelled five rapists.)</p>
<p>Indeed, mini. I’m a Williams parent so it’s a subject I’m paying attention to.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting, mini!</p>
<p>Really disturbing. “Classes on consent”??? Good for Ms. Bolger for bringing Amherst’s “Culture of Denial” to light.</p>
<p>Here’s the link to the SMOC report: [Toward</a> a Culture of Respect](<a href=“https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/452118/original/Toward_a_Culture_of_Respect_Title_IX.pdf]Toward”>https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/452118/original/Toward_a_Culture_of_Respect_Title_IX.pdf)</p>
<p>The thing I find most interesting in this case in Amherst, as well as a recent case at UNC, and others, is that the young women are no longer afraid to be “named.” In some ways this “protection” also kept the young women silent and allowed the “authorities” to make unchallenged decisions.</p>
<p>Now that young women have collectively realized they have no shame in this, that it is the perpetrator who should be ashamed, the voices of these young women are what will ultimately change things. It is difficult to agitate from the shadows. But, out in the light, they can speak.</p>
<p>In fact, the way they were silenced “for their own protection” for so long served only to perpetuate the culture of shame associated with being victimized. Now, not as much. </p>
<p>I am also encouraged by the strong response of the DOJ in all cases where it seems as if the schools themselves are not taking strong enough steps.</p>
<p>As for the culture of rape. All anyone needs to do is to turn on the television to understand how pervasive this has become.</p>
<p>Well our foreign policy reflects this too directly related to concepts of masculinity and power.</p>
<p>Unbelievably disturbing.</p>
<p>I’m not sure which part is more upsetting: that freshmen students are lured into situations by the organized social atmosphere or that the upperclassmen, including women, then become deniers or suppressors after the attack.</p>
<p>I’ve added an additional column on the spreadsheet: The rate of sexual assault on campus. Unfortunately as the report notes, it’s difficult to find accurate statistics.</p>
<p>Because of a very in-depth survey done last year, all the NESCAC schools have data. At Amherst, 5% of women (and a few men) experienced sexual penetration without consent (the definition of rape in Massachusetts) in the previous year. Some of them multiple times.</p>
<p>And, not, the data at Amherst (and Williams) are not comparable to other schools, regardless of how many times the administration would like you to think so. They are higher, and the differences reach a level of statistical significance.</p>
<p>Mini – are you saying that Amherst and Williams have higher per capita rape stats compared to other schools in the area or nationwide?</p>
<p>I am stating that THEY REPORT (not I) they have had higher numbers and percentages of women (and men) raped and sexually assaulted than at other NESCAC schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification. And I meant that it them reporting not you:)</p>
<p>Of course the issue remains with getting any real meaningful and accurate data from schools. Who knows how accurate the reporting is?</p>
<p>You know, there is an entire science of survey methodology. Folks really do know how to get meaningful and accurate data, provided they report on what is actually asked, as opposed to what is not. (For example, we can know relatively reliable how many women reported they were raped, but not how many rapes occurred.)</p>
<p>^Exactly. If there is a culture of silence or of oppressing reporting then we don’t have a true idea just how prevalent rape is on a particular campus.</p>
<p>Oh, but I think we do know in terms of the number of women (and men) who believe they have been raped. We just don’t know how many times.</p>
<p>(It’s like knowing the number of criminals - actually victims - but not the number of crimes.)</p>
<p>Yikes. Are you saying that some are repeat victims?</p>
<p>Yes. (10 char)</p>
<p>So how do I, as a parent of a high school junior who is now beginning the college search process, broach this subject with my daughter and make her aware, without needlessly frightening her? And no, I have never had a “rape” conversation with her. She knows what it is, but really hasn’t dated much and really isn’t out often socially.</p>
<p>^I am the parent of a college-age son and a high-school-age daughter. I think you just make sure there is absolutely no ambiguity in our kids’ understanding of consent and respect. I cannot imagine my son ever treating a young woman the way some of the Amherst students have, but then again he does not buy into the “bro” culture, whether of the athletic or elitist variety–he is a kind, gentle young man with as many female friends as male. As for my daughter, she is no one’s fool and demands respect. She has not dated much but she has plenty of contempt for the “players” at her school and doesn’t give them the time of day (even though some of them have been interested in her from time to time).</p>
<p>As you begin your college search, look closely at the culture, and look at the statistics. Binge drinking is closely related to rape, and binge drinking is also closely related to both the frat and sports cultures at many schools. </p>
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<p>[Rape</a> Linked to Heavy College Drinking](<a href=“http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/college/a/blcas040214.htm]Rape”>How Heavy Alcohol Use Damages Memory Function)</p>
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<p>[Cornell</a> Science News: Greek leaders lead binge drinking](<a href=“Home | Cornell Chronicle”>Home | Cornell Chronicle)</p>
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<p>[Alcohol</a> and college athletes. [Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001] - PubMed - NCBI](<a href=“Alcohol and college athletes - PubMed”>Alcohol and college athletes - PubMed)</p>
<p>Thank you Sally. You’ve given me a great starting point.</p>