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OPINION New law broadens definition of rape January 27, 2012 By Colleen Gonzalez Staff Writer Since 1927, national law has recognized women as the primary targets for sexual assault. Although it is true that males have the necessary anatomy to commit such a crime, we underestimate just who can be a victim and who can be a perpetrator. On Jan. 6, Attorney General Eric Holder announced a newly revised definition of rape. According to the U.S. Department of Justice website, the law previously defined rape as the "carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will." Unfortunately, this only limited rape to vaginal penetration. Considering the sexual nature of humans, it is surprising other types of penetration weren't included. "The data that are reported to the public come from this definition, and sadly, it portrays a very, very distorted picture," said Susan B. Carbon, director of the Office on Violence Against Women, to the New York Times. In summation, this means that if your experience of assault does not fit the description of this law, it doesn't count. This narrow definition limits the number of rapes and sexual assault reported because victims fear they will not have a case to bring their attacker to justice. In fact, statistics contained in reports filed with the Uniform Crime Report system of the FBI were found to be inaccurate and undercounted due to the narrow scope of the law. The new law includes male victims, oral and anal penetration by another object, and rapes that occur between same-sex couples. Thus, with this new law in effect, it is hopeful that victims who may not have reported their attack previously due to the narrow definition will now have confidence that their perpetrator will be punished. Being sexually assaulted or raped traumatizes the victim enough that they are often scared to report what happened. However, why should a narrow definition make victims who aren't female more terrified to report their attack? Furthermore, what if the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs? When we get to college, one of the first assemblies we attend is about consent, should a situation like this arise. When you are intoxicated, your judgment is clouded, making you vulnerable to sexual assault. No one asks to be sexually assaulted or raped and, when someone doesn't have the right mind to consent, their attack should still be counted in the eyes of the law. Why did it take, the law 80 years to finally broaden the definition of rape despite ongoing media coverage on such attacks? Just think of all the attacks that could have been reported or gone through to the UCR system. The number could have been insurmountably larger and victims would find closure and justice. Unfortunately, this law doesn't change the way different states operate in their own reporting system. Nevertheless, with this new definition in place, victims will have the courage to step up and report their case, even if it occurred years prior. Speaking out is better than keeping quiet and every voice counts. The occupy movement: not just a another youth rehellion By All Krantzler Staff Writer The Occupy Wall Street movement began over five months ago in New York City's financial district at Liberty Square. Since then, the movement has spread across the country to over 100 cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, Greensboro, Washington, D.C.; and Oakland. There are different perceptions, positive and negative, about the Occupy movement. Some refuse to see the economic disparity between the 99 percent and the 1 percent and therefore see the movement as irrelevant. Still others do not support it at all, deeming it just another "youth rebellion" full of pissed-off young adults who are wasting their time when they could be using it more wisely. However, this sentiment is not shared by all. In fact, many members of the Guilford community have had very meaningful experiences with the movement. The Occupy Wall Street movement is significant. This movement has brought up relevant topics which may not have otherwise surfaced. These topics include the social disparity among classes and the inability to move up the social ladder. The general focus of the movement has also morphed into more communal and locally based initiatives. The 99 percent is made up of a multitude of people with their own individual reasons for supporting the occupation. The 99 percent may be protesting as one, but they each have their own identity and individual motives for participation. Every occupation city has different demographics and age groups and their own projects. For example, Greensboro is working on "Occupy Foreclosure" where they are using foreclosed homes for meeting sites. When asked to define the Occupy movement. Associate Professor of Political Science Ken Gilmore said, "It's a movement of people who are frustrated by a political and economic system which seems to be skewed towards the wealthy and powerful." The movement is an outcry against the lack of social mobility in our country. Many Guilford students, who have participated in Occupy Greensboro, Philadelphia, and D.C., also provide insight into the movement. At first I expected it to be a bunch of college kids meeting at a coffee shop, talking about corporations being evil," explained senior Erich Pohanka. "But honestly, the first few meetings, there were very few college kids. There were mostly people in their 30s or 60s, anywhere in range of that and I was really shocked and kind of amped by that because it's not just some little rebellion. It's something that everyone is affected by." During the seven days that Pohanka and senior Yahya Alazrak camped at Occupy Greensboro, the community proved it could sustain itself by providing food, information sharing and people's libraries. One direction the movement is working towards is to help stimulate cooperative businesses operating collectively and horizontally. With winter approaching, the outside world may think the cold will put a damper on the movement. However, this is false. "Many people have been talking about how the Occupy movement is in hibernation not disintegration," said Alazrak. Greensboro sent over 60 people to Occupy Congress in D.C. at the beginning of January. The movement has been a wake-up call in a sense. "The average middle-class American was finally experiencing the repercussions of a failing capitalist system," said Alazrak. "The occupy movement is a response to that." In order to create change on the local and national level, it is vital that these conversations and meetings continue to happen. This movement can be seen as an opportunity to be a part of the greater initiative. Guest writers welcomed, always With each semester comes a stream of new writers and staff members proposing an array of pitches, angles to different stories, and of course, opinions. What remains constant, though, is our desire to also publish guest writers as voices of the community. You may see your friend, an acquaintance, a favorite professor or even yourself being quoted in an article from time to time. However, it's also possible to participate more directly and at greater length by working as a guest writer. Whether you are interested in exploring the field of journalism, giving insight on a trending topic or responding to an article published in a previous issue, all sections of the Guilfordian have room for guest writers. In the past, the Guilfordian has been referred to, or even criticized, as a "liberal" source for news. As the GOP presidential race and other political events occur over the semester, we hope to hear from every corner of the campus and make sure all voices are represented. If you are conservative, liberal or. somewhere in between and would like to submit an Opinion piece on a current topic, we will gladly accept your submission. However, guest writing isn't just limited to politics. We'd like to hear from our cooks, musicians, athletes, comic collectors, poets, Quakers, outdoors people and everyone else in the community. There are many creative opportunities involved in writing for the paper: album and concert reviews, reporting events around campus and in Greensboro, cooking recipes, poetry, health and fashion tips, DIY instructions and other personal interests. We hope that you will take the initiative to contact us. If you have an idea for an Opinion story you'd like to write, please contact Opinion Editor Haley Hawkins. For other story proposals, please contact our Managing Editor Rebecca Gibian. See the "Community" page or the Guilfordian website for their contact information. ■ The EOITORIAI board of the Guilfordiah consists of - RVE section editors, A PHOTO EDITOR, LAYOUT EDITOR, WES EDITOR, DIVERSITY COORDINATOR, ADVERTISING MANAGER, WiCeO EDITOR, EXECUTIVE PRINT COPY EDITOR, EXECUTIVE WEB ^ COPY EDITOR, SOCIAL JUSTICE EDITOR, MANAGING EDITOR, AND ' EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. ^ Reflecting Guilford College's core Quaker values, iTHE TOPICS AND CONTENT OF STAFF EDITORIALS ARE CHOSEN - THROUGH CONSENSUS OF ALL 16 EDITORS.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Jan. 27, 2012, edition 1
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