Spring Break
The dorm life
Samantha Hughes
Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: Opinion
On Halloween night, of the hundreds of people that were milling around west end, he found me. Not only did he not give up when asked to leave, but he actually convinced someone to let him in the building and up to my door.
This person is now a felon, just gonna put that out there. Imagine the things he could have done if I had been in that room and answered the door. Instead, he left a note and a random gift.
I don't want to criticize the safety of campus, because I know that student patrol groups and the student police work incredibly hard, but the safety of females on campus seems to be a little slack.
Yes, sometimes we ask for it by being inebriated, but think about this: one in every four college women experiences rape or attempted rape. To put it in perspective, on a floor with double occupancy, there is a girl in every other room that has been raped or has almost been raped. Are we doing enough to protect them?
Campus security is trained first and foremost to be a mediator. They do not want to start throwing fists like an episode of "Dog the Bounty Hunter."
78 percent of women who have been raped knew their attackers. Kelley, the fabulous RA that she was, told us about a person she knew at another university who was assaulted by her roommate's boyfriend while her roomie stepped out for a phone call.
So, as much as you might hate that visitation policy, think twice before you break it. Make sure your roommate is alright with your fella sleeping over, even if the coordinator isn't.
Also, consider knowing basic self defense, even the gentlemen. Males can be victims, too, and ladies, that pepper spray doesn't stop everyone.
Recognize that the residence hall association knows exactly what it's doing. So next time, think twice before you let that stranger follow you in.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
This person is now a felon, just gonna put that out there. Imagine the things he could have done if I had been in that room and answered the door. Instead, he left a note and a random gift.
I don't want to criticize the safety of campus, because I know that student patrol groups and the student police work incredibly hard, but the safety of females on campus seems to be a little slack.
Yes, sometimes we ask for it by being inebriated, but think about this: one in every four college women experiences rape or attempted rape. To put it in perspective, on a floor with double occupancy, there is a girl in every other room that has been raped or has almost been raped. Are we doing enough to protect them?
Campus security is trained first and foremost to be a mediator. They do not want to start throwing fists like an episode of "Dog the Bounty Hunter."
78 percent of women who have been raped knew their attackers. Kelley, the fabulous RA that she was, told us about a person she knew at another university who was assaulted by her roommate's boyfriend while her roomie stepped out for a phone call.
So, as much as you might hate that visitation policy, think twice before you break it. Make sure your roommate is alright with your fella sleeping over, even if the coordinator isn't.
Also, consider knowing basic self defense, even the gentlemen. Males can be victims, too, and ladies, that pepper spray doesn't stop everyone.
Recognize that the residence hall association knows exactly what it's doing. So next time, think twice before you let that stranger follow you in.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
John
posted 7/01/09 @ 6:00 PM EST
First of all, there is no campus security, it is campus POLICE, with full arrest powers, and they are not students. The campus safety students call the campus police if they observe something. (Continued…)
informed resident
posted 7/02/09 @ 11:49 PM EST
Ok first off ECU doesnt have "dorms" we live in residence halls. and before you ask, yes there is a difference. In a dorm you don't have community building activities and no community bonding, its just a place to sleep. (Continued…)
Allie
posted 7/08/09 @ 3:36 PM EST
Dear Samantha,
As an adult woman who has fought forty-two years for equality, I am angry, and saddened by your article. I can't believe that your generation is still buying the "asking for it" alibi. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 7/09/09 @ 3:06 PM EST
I am a recent graduate of ECU, but have not lived on campus since 2003.
Allie - I don't believe a girl "asks for it" when she's intoxicated, but she isn't really aware of her surroundings and makes decisions she otherwise wouldn't had she been sober. (Continued…)
Thanks Megan
posted 7/10/09 @ 2:10 PM EST
Thanks for your post Megan. I regret that my post was interpreted as "blowing up at responsible women". Of course people make bad decisions when they are intoxicated, but that still doesn't justify the "misunderstanding" of asking for it. (Continued…)
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