During my brief stint volunteering at a rape crisis center, I quickly recognized that I lacked the emotional capacity to assist survivors effectively. The thought of being a steady source of support while grappling with my own feelings of outrage and sorrow was overwhelming.
Our training was intense, covering harrowing statistics: 1 in 6 women in the U.S. will face attempted or completed rape, someone is assaulted every 98 seconds, and a staggering 70% of victims know their assailants. Perhaps the most shocking statistic? Only 6 out of every 1,000 sexual offenders will be imprisoned. Just six.
These figures only reflect those who have come forward, and countless others remain silent.
After training, I joined seasoned advocates to support victims in hospitals, navigating a complicated and often terrifying process. It became painfully clear that despite the existence of programs on college campuses aimed at supporting survivors, justice remains elusive, as evidenced by that same disheartening statistic of 6 out of 1,000.
Recently, an op-ed in The New York Times prompted a response from a survivor of rape, voicing her concerns about Betsy DeVos’s plans to overhaul the Obama-era policies regarding campus sexual assault. Spoiler alert: the changes are anything but positive.
While the previous administration’s guidelines faced criticism for potentially infringing on the due process rights of the accused—due to campus-based hearings that sidestep certain constitutional protections—DeVos’s rollback is a dangerous regression. Many advocates and victims alike are alarmed that her approach seems intent on downplaying the severity of sexual violence.
Just last week, DeVos and the Department of Education officially revoked these protective guidelines, complicating the already challenging journey for survivors seeking justice. Why are we moving backward?
“Betsy DeVos and her team appear committed to shielding those who commit acts of sexual violence, creating a safer environment for them instead,” said Kendra Lawson, co-founder of Speak Out Against Assault. This sentiment is echoed by countless advocates who are appalled by the current administration’s stance.
The voices of survivors deserve to be heard. Their experiences illustrate the intricate challenges we face as a society in safeguarding victims and holding perpetrators accountable.
I encourage you to read the survivor’s poignant letter, where she recounts her own harrowing experience: “One night in college, after drinking too much, a stranger offered to walk me home. I woke up disoriented, my clothes inside out, screaming in confusion. A part of me felt irrevocably lost, and yet the chances of my assailant facing consequences are dismally low.”
She articulates a critical point: “It feels like both conservatives and mainstream liberals have abandoned the issue of sexual assault to the far left. This is a glaring moral failure.”
Our lawmakers must prioritize the reality of sexual violence. It’s astonishing that we even have to advocate for this. With DeVos dismantling the protective measures designed for victims, survivors will face even more hurdles in their quest for justice. Criminals who commit such heinous acts must be held accountable.
Her letter powerfully reflects the struggle of being labeled a “bad victim” simply because she had been drinking. “Many conservative men in my life only listen to me after I share my story. So here it is,” she states.
If this doesn’t motivate us to strive for change, I don’t know what will. We must resist DeVos’s detrimental path. There’s no such thing as a “bad victim”—there are only victims and perpetrators. It’s imperative that our legislators prioritize the plight of sexual assault survivors just as much as they aim to protect the accused. If they fail to do so, we risk leaving victims to suffer in silence while their attackers remain unpunished.
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Summary:
Betsy DeVos’s recent rollback of Obama-era protections for campus rape survivors signifies a troubling shift in how sexual assault is addressed on college campuses. Advocates and survivors are voicing their concerns that these changes undermine the support systems in place and jeopardize victims’ chances for justice. This situation highlights the urgent need for lawmakers to prioritize the voices and experiences of survivors rather than those of the accused.