As a survivor of sexual assault, I’ve never felt more uncomfortable on the UF campus. I can’t walk to class withotut cringing at the teal ribbons littering Turlington and Plaza of the Americas, constant reminders of what I and so many others went through. Student Government has done this campus a disservice by triggering survivors with its poorly managed campaign and by perpetuating negative stereotypes that sexual assault is limited to a strange man grabbing a woman walking alone in the middle of the night and that victims should “prevent” sexual assault by not walking alone.
Sexual assault is not just a women’s issue; it affects everyone. SG’s campaign has completely excluded the queer community, children, intimate dating violence and male students from their inaccurate definition of sexual assault. Communities should not respond to sexual violence by simply telling women never to walk alone, but by telling people they cannot violate another’s personal space or they will risk being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I knew my attacker. Not walking alone would not have prevented my sexual assault. A narrow understanding of sexual assault silences and delegitimizes the millions of people who were sexually assaulted by someone they knew. It’s difficult to come forward and report a sexual assault. It’s even more difficult when victims are faced with accusing someone they know. I didn’t want to name my attacker for fear of retribution or that friends and family wouldn’t believe me. Young women also aren’t the only targets of sexual assault; 15 percent of victims are children under the age of 12 and 10 percent are men. SG has failed to advocate for all victims of these terrible and brutal acts.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week could have been a positive force for change. The ribbons could have included positive messages such as “you are not alone” or “no means no” instead of the triggering “sexual assault awareness.” The messages of “don’t walk alone” could have shifted toward opportunities to remind students of safe nighttime transportation. SG could have hosted a candlelight vigil to honor survivors or had a male or queer-identified, trans-inclusive speaker to reinforce that sexual assault affects everyone. It could have expanded counseling for survivors or passed a resolution funding legal counsel for every victim who reports an assault. Instead, this week has been triggering, miserable and misinformed. In the future, SG should work to create events that represent every victim.
The recent attacks against four young women have been horrible acts of violence, and I hope the attacker is brought to justice. I hope we don’t allow this one man and SG’s response define sexual assault and influence the views on this campus. I grappled for years with the legitimacy of my assault, and I don’t want others to blame themselves for not fitting the mold created by SG.
Editor’s Note: The writer of this column asked to remain anonymous.
[A version of this story ran on page 9 on 9/12/2014 under the headline "Problems with SG’s assault campaign"]
