Predict, prevent rape

Today I spoke with my daughter via telephone (long distance); she sounded strange. I asked her the usual sequence of questions: How’s work, how’s school, how’s cello? The answers were satisfactory, but the tone was not convincing. Finally, at the end of the conversation she said, “You know mom, today’s the day.” I instantly knew she was referring to that night, now two years ago ,when she was raped in the McNutt dormitory. I spent a sleepless night, and at about 3:00 a.m. realized that while I was safely sleeping at home in my bed in April 2006, my 18-year-old daughter was experiencing the horror of rape in the McNutt dormitory. Thanks to Friends of Middle Way for shining a light on campus sexual assault. Hopefully, the appointment of President McRobbie’s wife to the board of directors at Middle Way House helps IU to understand the true horror of what it means to be raped. IU could stand out among universities by ending a culture that has dismissed this horrible crime for too long. An advisory board made up of victims would be a good start. I urge staff, students and the community to exert pressure on trustees to take preventative action so that young women don’t fall victim to rape. IU has failed students when, upon arrival, they are not warned about the significant risk to them of sexual assault, and when they do not impose significant consequences to perpetrators of campus violence. Campus police fail students when they do not do the quality of police work needed to obtain prosecutions. The U.S. Department of Justice warned universities that 3 percent of women each year will be victimized by sexual assault. It’s not enough to say that we have excellent services in place to assist victims; in the words of IUPD Captain Minger, “if (the crime) is predictable it’s preventable.” End the silence and culture of victim blaming. Do it for your friend, sister, girlfriend, for my daughter and all those who came before and after her. You have the power to dry their tears with change.