Prevent Sexual Assault: Join the SpeakOut Video Campaign this Friday

by Jillian Hewitt

SpeakOut, an organization committed to ending sexual assault on campus, is hosting an important event this Friday, November 20th. From the Facebook event page:

“We will read testimonials as well as present the idea of our new SpeakOut video campaign: the video will aim to remind that Sexual Assault Is Not A Joke. To, literally, put a face to this message we will record volunteers from the student body saying phrases like “Remember, sexual assault is not a joke” or “SpeakOut”. Filming will start on the night of Sexual Assault Is Not A Joke where we will explain the video campaign and encourage volunteers to participate.”

Why is the name of the event “Sexual Assault is Not a Joke?” Because in the past year there have been several instances of “lewdness,” which essentially amounts to attempted sexual assault, but instead of speaking openly and critically about these events, our campus has chosen to make light of them.

First, in emails to the student body, the acts have been described in a way that is vague at best and completely misleading at worst. Our public safety officers are, of course, required to write these emails using language from their protocol, but none of us know quite what the rules are. We would do well as a community to engage in a discussion between students, student leaders and organizations, and public safety itself. We need to find a better way to inform our students about horrific and traumatic events in a way that makes students feel shock and concern, not that makes them laugh.

And it’s not that we’re all insensitive—it’s not that at all. It’s that, frankly, the way the emails are worded makes the events seem absurd, and sometimes yes, funny. So we need to find a better way to talk about the attacks that have happened, because as it is we’re doing a disservice not only to the victims but also to the student body as a whole.

Secondly, some people on campus have actively made light of these attacks in a way that is both offensive and disgusting. The editorial board at the Daily Princetonian published “Public Masturbator” as their #1 idea for a Princeton Halloween costume. Really, Prince? I wonder what the people who made this decision were thinking when they decided to print that. That it had been long enough since the attack happened that no one would be offended? That it didn’t matter, it was funny anyway? That those who were victims would read it and not be forced to think about that night all over again?

To make a joke out of sexual assault is to say, “that sort of thing doesn’t happen here.” But it does. And it did. Maybe you think that this kind of joke shouldn’t offend the victims, or anyone else for that matter. But here’s the thing: it’s not our place to tell them how to feel, or what to be offended by. It’s not our place to tell them that what they experienced wasn’t assault, or it wasn’t really that bad, or that it could’ve been worse.

It’s our place to listen to their stories, to support them, and to actively try to make sure that this kind of thing does not happen on our campus. And if (and when) it does, it’s our place to speak out together—to say that sexual assault is not a joke.

Image from Facebook event page.