I think this is a great video on a number of levels. First, the statistics about rape on college campuses is staggering, and from my own experience, I believe these numbers are realistic. Most people don’t realize the risks they take when going off to college. Young adults are in a new environment, exposed to alcohol at record levels, have freedom for the first time in their life, so it is not surprising boundaries are pushed and crossed sadly.

I can say that I remember my first college party, and I was so freaked out by the tension in the air that I left because I could feel the “rape” vibe. I kid you not. People were gyrating everywhere, guys were truly on the prowl for a good ending, the music was blaring, people were drinking past the point of good judgment and there was no where to turn if you needed help. I’ll never forget those frat boy faces! I remember thinking that this is not a safe place to be, and I promptly left. While I attended a lot of parties in college after that, none of them made me feel like that one did and I can’t articulate why. I just didn’t feel safe. But what did I do? I walked home alone down a dark road to escape it because no one else saw what I saw. Not so wise, either, but thankfully, I was fine, and so were my friends (who had more experience than I did)!

Second, I think this video is fascinating because we get to see victims talk about their crime, albeit brief, but watch their expressions. Are they what you would expect to see from a victim?

Steve Kardian is absolutely correct that woman will justify why they should not report a rape. Most women who I knew in college who found themselves in bad situations blamed themselves, or diminished the scenario so they didn’t have to deal with it, etc. They didn’t want to accept the reality that they were raped. That they became a victim. It’s not an easy thing to accept, and understandably so.

If you have a daughter going off to college this year, I would stress that you discuss this with her. She is in a high risk group for this problem, and education and knowledge are power.

Steve Kardian teaches a course on rape escape.