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Wliat to do
How to Prevent Acquaintance Rape:
* Know your date well before saying yes to the date.
* Make sure you and your family know in advance where you are going.
* Go out with other couples and stay in public places until you can trust him.
* Make it clear to your date if you do not intend to become sexual ly involved.
* Trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, it probably is, and you should go to a safe place..
* Be suspicious if your date orders you around or makes a conversation too personal or sexual.
Wliat to Do if Attacked:
* Tell him you have your period or a sexually transmitted disease.
* Scream and run.
* Act crazy.
* Show no resistance if it is the only way you wi 11 survive.
If You Are Raped:
* Call the police.
* Call the Rape Crisis Line to talk to 24 hour volunteer staff at 273-RAPE.
* Go to the hospital and get immediate medical attention.
Date rape jtin controversy
By Emily Duquette
Reporter
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Dale rape. The meaning is often misunder
stood. but the term is undeniably related to vio
lence. anger, hurl, and abuse. Date rape can hap
pen to people of all sc.xcs. races, socio-economic
position, or ages. Ascarlvasthc 1 toO's. nearh
.33% offcniales on one college campus had e.xpe-
ricnced ■■attempted intercourse." according to the
American Journal of Sociology. A more recent
study from the late 1 980's showed that of these
rape victims. bO'Xi knew their attacker.
Sexual contact becomes abusive when it is
not cor.scnted to. Although contro
versial. rape can occur in marriages
and long-term relationships, even if
the partner had agreed to sex in the
past. This fact is arguable, because
' many do not understand why a woman
would say ■■no" if she agreed to many
times before. Consequently, many vic
tims don’t feel they were raped, and nei
ther do other people.
Many people argue that the definition
of consensual sex depends on the situation.
The Facts...
*At least one woman is raped every minute in the U.S. — 683,000 women are
raped every year
*A woman’s risk of being raped by someone she knows is four ttQies greater
than being raped by a stranger.
*55% of stranger rapes are reported to the pohee, while 19% of acquaintance
rapes are reported. Of acquaintance rapes, only 2% of rapes were reported
when the perpetrator was a friend of the family or a date.
*Once every 15 seconds in the United States a woman is beaten by her
husband or boyfriend.
*Rape is the fastest gro'wing crime in America
Says John Cloward, a junior, ■ It’s wrong, but she
should tell him [ ' no ” ] at the very beginning, not
Just before it happens."
Still many people counter that the situation
should not make a difference. 'In a situation like
that, NO means NO," said Bobby Key, a junior.
Zac Johnson, also a junior, says, ■If one
doesn’t want to, then it is rape if they are forced
to do it."
Yet another problem rape victims face is the
decision to prosecute. Although legal action can
be taken against the assailant to prevent further
violence, many times this results in emotional
trauma for the victim. Patty Yu, a senior, said, ■■It
seems most girls would beforehand respond yes
[ to prosecuting their attacker |. but it changes
once you’re in the situation. 1 think it would be
really traumatic and the girl wouldn’t know w'hat
to do.”
Upon being asked what he would do if a friend
were raped, Logan Barber, a junior said, ■ I’d tell
her to take him to court."
In her book ■'Warning! Dating May Be Haz
ardous to Your Health," Claudette MeShane re
ports that perhaps the most frightening statistic
is this: a woman is more likely to be a rape victim
if she is between the ages of 1.3 and 24. This
means that it is more than likely that date rape
oecurs at Grimsley High School. Lindsay Kuhn,
a junior, says, ■■! think it goes on, but I think
they’re a lot of people who don’t realize it’s rape.”
■■It goes on everywhere," said Cloward. There
are many forms of sexual abuse, from an unwanted
touch to forced sex. But if it is hurtful or un
wanted, it is always abuse. This presents a chal
lenge, because many people argue over what is
"abuse.” Many people feel that verbal threats or
remarks should not be taken seriously but physi
cal contact (like violence and rape) should be
considered.
Anyone can be a victim. Date rape sometimes
occurs with no prior warning, but being aware of
aggression, constant jealousy, misogyny (a
strong hate of women), or controlling behavior
and making decisions at that point will help pre
vent it.