Alcohol And Rape On Campus

A female patient of mine who was a university student told me about a terrible ordeal she had recently gone through. Wanting to relax after a tense week of studying for exams, she accepted an invitation to go out for a drink with one of her male classmates. Social drinking is accepted in our culture—especially on college campuses—and this young woman felt that there was nothing unusual about meeting a friend for a drink. Things, however, did not go as she planned. After a few drinks, she and her friend, whom she thought of “as a brother,” went back to her apartment. He followed her into her bedroom and raped her.

Unfortunately, my patient’s story is not unique. On college campuses, 70% of rape cases occur due to the effects of alcohol—in spite of all the information, prevention guidelines, and advice provided by parents and campus officials, and 80% of rapes are committed by someone who is well-known to the victim. Alcohol slows down reflexes, eliminates inhibitions, and makes people act in a manner that is completely different from when they are sober. Although my patient’s classmate called her the following day apologizing and stating that he was ashamed of his behavior, the damage had already been done. The effects of her trauma (and his remorse) will last forever. The young man in this case was somewhat unusual in that he felt guilty after the fact. Other students in his circumstance often tell themselves that they are not responsible because the woman was drunk and seemed to go along with it, or that the she should have said “no” more emphatically.

The consequences of irresponsible drinking can last a lifetime.There is no doubt that alcohol is responsible for many crimes and is also associated with poor decisions and serious accidents involving young people. The dangers of drinking among young people can affect men as well as women. A man may be sent to jail, be responsible for conceiving a child with a woman he hardly knows, or contract a sexually transmitted disease. Although social drinking may be a fashionable option, it is not always a wise one.

When young people make the decision to drink, moderation is the best rule—as is associating with trustworthy friends who will never pressure you into dangerous intimacy. For young women, additional protection methods are advisable. Self-defense courses that teach women to defend themselves against potential assault may be the most practical classes they ever take.