MONDAY, APRIL 16 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA
Sexual Assault Awareness A Battalion Special Package
Stigma and Silence
The legal side of the issue A look at the legislation passed in response to the #MeToo movement By Kenya Robinson @_KenyaJ
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Nine percent of sexual assault survivors are male, however, men do not always have the same resources that are available to women.
Eliminating the stereotypes around male sexual assault survivors By Diana Paredes @paredesaguilera One in 71 men in the U.S. will be raped at some point in their lives, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). While starting a conversation about this issue can be difficult, experts and survivors emphasize the importance of bringing awareness to male sexual assault survivors. The NSVRC reports 9 percent of rape and sexual assault survivors are male, and over half of male victims are abused by someone they know. While male sexual assault cases on campus are not reported very often, male sexual assault survivors deserve the same respect, attention and access to adequate resources as female survivors, according to Kristen Harrell, associate director for the Dean of Student Life.
Stephanie Brown, industrial and organizational psychology graduate student researching male sexual assault, said there are common misconceptions about male sexual assault which prevent open communication within a community. “Men who are victims of sexual assault from other men — which is about 90 percent of male sexual assault — might fear being stereotyped as gay or as wanting such sexual contact,” Brown said. “That’s absolutely untrue. Sexual assault, for men and women, has very little to do with sexual desire and everything to do with power and the perpetrator exerting power over another person.” Brown said the misconception that men and women sexually abuse others according to their sexual orientation should be reconsidered. “Even the idea that a man who sexually assaults other men must be gay is wrong,” Brown said. “The majority of men who rape or assault other men identify as straight. However, if we hold this idea in our minds
that men are supposed to be able to protect themselves or not freeze during an assault, we make it difficult for survivors to come forward and talk about the abuse they experience.” Isaac Sabat, psychology assistant professor, said the majority of survivors are sexually assaulted by someone they know, making it difficult for some survivors to confront their attackers after the incident. “They’re in shock that someone they know and trust would betray them like that,” Sabat said. “Even seemingly joking behavior between friends can be assault, and it’s always best to behave like you’re in an airport: ‘If you see something, say something.’ It’s a lot better to stand up and prevent an instance of sexual assault or harassment and find out you misread the situation than it is to let sexual assault take place right in front of you.” Victor Villasana, English sophomore, said the image of masculinity within a community can affect which messages he and others are expected to display or keep in the dark. MALE VICTIMS ON PG. 4
Report. Respond. Recieve resources. What to do and where to go to find support on Texas A&M’s campus By Kenya Robinson @_KenyaJ Preparing to report a perpetrator, mustering up the courage to seek help or discussing your experience with sexual abuse can all be very difficult. But Texas A&M staff can help. Sexual assault survivors can access a number of resources on campus if they are looking to report a sexual assault case to authorities, looking for someone to talk to or looking to learn more about giving consent and maintaining healthy relationships. These resources, such as the University Police Department and their Victim Advocate program and Student Assistance Services (SAS) work to educate and provide assistance to survivors of sexual assault. By connecting students with the appropriate personnel to help with personal and
academic issues, SAS serves as one of the main resources on campus which students report to when dealing with sexual assault. Melanie McKoin, case manager for SAS, said each survivor of sexual abuse requires a different kind of support when it comes to the grieving and healing process. “[We ask], ‘Are we getting them connected with our victims advocate over in the UPD, College Station Police Department or Bryan Police Department?’” McKoin said. “It’s really addressing a student as they are and meeting them where they are, so sometimes it’s in those conversations. It’s seeing what they need, where they’re at, helping them figure out what they need.” If students are looking to report their sexual assault case to the university, SAS is the place to go, according to McKoin. After reporting a case to SAS, a university investigation will begin and offenders will be held accountable based on student rules outlined in the student code of conduct. If university investigators find the alleged offender is re-
In response to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, Congress has been working on new legislation to address the issue of sexual assault in the workplace. The MeToo movement, first coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, went viral on social media last October after actress Alyssa Milano shared a tweet encouraging women who had been victims of sexual abuse to speak up. Milano’s tweet was in response to actress Alyssa Judd and other women speaking up about allegations of sexual assault against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, which sparked a call for accountability in the entertainment and political scene. The Time’s Up movement began when Hollywood celebrities banded together to create a legal defense fund in response to the Weinstein effect. As reported by the Associated Press, more than two dozen lawmakers across the nation resigned from office amid sexual assault allegations since the beginning of 2017. In response, the U.S. Senate passed a mandatory sexual assault training resolution in November, required for both Senate and House members. The resolution requires all representatives and their staff to complete mandatory sexual assault and harassment training within 60 days, to be repeated at least once every two years. Hoping to take this legislation to the next level, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Representatives Ryan Costello (R-PA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Member and Employee Training and Oversight On Congress Act to address the issues with the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which required Congress and the legislative branch to follow workplace and employment practices set forth in private businesses and the rest of the federal government. LEGISLATION ON PG. 2
sponsible for the sexual assault, the case will then make its way to the student conduct office, where the offender can face a number of consequences, ranging from expulsion from the university to required enrollment in consent classes. Kristen Harrell, associate director for the Dean of Student Life, said students should be aware of the difference between the law and university rules. “If someone chooses to report [a sexual assault case] to the university, they are not obligated to go to the police, but we also don’t prevent them from going to the police so that they will be in control whether or not they go to law enforcement, or if they choose to pursue the university process.” Harrell said For incidents which occurred on campus, the UPD can assist students who would like to open a criminal investigation. To provide support and information throughout this RESOURCES ON PG. 2
Nic Tan — THE BATTALION
Cassie Stricker — THE BATTALION
Student Assistance Services, the Student Counseling Helpline and the Sexual Assault Resource Center are all available resources for students who have been sexually assaulted.