Sexual assault should not go underreported

In response to the recent article “Native American women more at risk for violence,” not many people know about Native American women being victimized in such acts. These victimized women “under-addressed,” “underreported” and “under-covered” the sexual assaults or violent victimization. A Department of Justice study shows that Native American women are more likely to be sexually assaulted. Roe Bubar, professor from Colorado State University, said that “the issue that native women are battered, raped and stalked is pretty dramatic and there needs to be more done about it.” In general, women and men can be victims of sexual assault.

Being aware of these crimes can help save people from underreporting the event. To stop acts of sexual assault or violent victimization people have to report the whole event even though it may be difficult. The more crimes are reported the more it will help to create a better and safer community. With underreporting more people will be victimized. It may be difficult to report these crimes because these are events that no one is willing to retell. But in order to help others from being a victim, people who have been a victim need to give information to authority so that criminals can be punished.

People should be learning and helping the Native American cultures or anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault. There are many resources where people can get help. Keeping sexual assault events from authority is only harming the victim. If a report is given to the authority, they will stop another assault from happening. Being aware of what happens around the community can help prevent crimes and create a safer community for children and adults.

Brandi Cho

Freshman in LAS

This is what a feminist wears

In regard to John Bambenek’s article “You are more than your vagina, no matter what the neofeminists tell you to believe: Modern feminism and the ways it’s strayed from its origins,” he talks about how feminism today is about claiming liberation in being a sex object.

This is a broad generalization to make about feminism today. He is making this judgment based off one group of girls and this group of girls does not speak for feminism everywhere. One should examine a group carefully before making any generalizations.

The word feminism is defined as having social, political and all other rights of women equal to those of men; therefore these girls could not be considered feminists of any sort because they are not promoting equal rights.

The group the Feminist Majority at the University of Illinois is having an event called “Sex Out Loud” where they are promoting sex education. The T-shirts they are making with this phrase written on it are trying to fundraise so nobody goes without knowing all the aspects to sex. They are not asking people to love them for their body and not their mind, they are simply raising awareness of sex education. These girls, if anything, are promoting safe sex and do not want people to be ignorant when consenting to this act.

The shirts with the broad phrase “Sex Out Loud” written on it can be misunderstood if you fail to research the meaning behind it. His obvious misinterpretation of the message these girls are trying to put out there is harmful and misleading.

Alyssa Maestre

Freshman in ACES