GREENSBORO, North Carolina: Sexual assault is a very uncomfortable subject to discuss. It is embarrassing for victims and their friends and family. No matter how embarrassing or uncomfortable it is to talk about sexual assault, we must, as it is a serious issue that is all too common. According to the Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network (RAINN), 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their life. Even scarier, college women are 4 times as likely to be assaulted. This is frightening when more people than ever are going to college. Greensboro alone has 6 colleges and universities, and what, as a community, are we doing to educate ourselves? I recently became a statistic of sexual assault, and, as a victim, felt alone. I didn't know where to go or who to call. When the trauma occurred, I was at a loss to know what to do even though I'm in Graduate School for Social Work and being trained to assist individuals in this situation. It speaks to the psychological processes during trauma that I was unsure what to do. So I propose this. Our community with so many college students must form policies to educate ourselves on how to prevent sexual assault and what to do if we fall victim. If you think it isn't a big enough issue, but by the time you finish reading this, a person was sexually assaulted in the United States. It happens every two minutes (RAINN). This could be your daughter, brother, friend, or significant other. Wouldn't you want them to protect themselves and know what to do in a time of crisis? Discussions of sexual assault are no more uncomfortable than many aspects of sex education. Lets make it policy to educate our children at every developmentally appropriate stage in their lives about sexual assault within sex education programs. This could lead to a greater understanding of the impact and the severity of the crime on victims and their communities. It would also lead to productive discussions about the need for behavioral changes (no really means no) and establish community initiatives to prevent abuse. This change in our sexual education policy should be a priority not an option. If we don't demand education, who is going to teach our children, because most likely, talking to your child about sexual assault doesn't come up until she/he is a victim? ** Caitlin Mayton is a graduate student of social work at the University of North Carolina BM
