Argh

[tammabanana]

There was a series of sexual assaults on campus a couple of weeks ago, so the campus is talking about it. It's nice that they're making noise about this being unacceptable, but I find myself depressed over some of the messaging that's coming out of it: the row of a dozen signs down the sidewalk, each with its own little tidbit of advice. Find

Comments

[cliosfolly]

I think you should write a letter about this to whichever campus department does the signage and explain to them about victim-blaming. And maybe suggest that they tackle rape prevention in more constructive ways--by using signs that (for example) say things like, "If a creeper's creeping on a friend, support your friend!" "If someone tells you 'No,' then stop!" "Sex with someone too intoxicated to consent is rape!" and "Don't rape anyone you meet tonight, please!"

[retsuko]

+1,000,000 (or like, or agree, or whatever)

I find the same ideas you do about the current campaign repugnant; however, it could be that whoever's in charge of the campaign simply hasn't thought of another way to do this. As sad as it is, a non-victim-blaming strategy is still seen as a novelty by most. :(

(Ugh, I sound inarticulate. It's early here and the coffee is still kicking in.)

[tammabanana]

There's not really a source on the signage, but it looks like the kind of stuff usually constructed by student groups. I could totally believe that they haven't been exposed to any alternative method of talking about this yet, y'know?

I feel really enraged by the sign that indicates that fighting back can scare off the attacker, because the streak of assaults in question sounds like it was all the same guy, the same night, refining his goddamn technique. The first two got away, but the third did not. I bet she fought back, for all the good it did. I think about that girl crossing the arts quad, looking at that sign, and I want to set it on fucking fire.

[cliosfolly]

UGH! How horrible.

Maybe contact the Cornell Daily Sun about this, if you can't track down the signage source?

Also, the NY State Coalition Against Sexual Assault just recently posted an awesome prevention tips graphic and blog post. It's here.