tudents believe that when they go to school their freshman year,the safest place they can be in is their dorm room. Universitiespride themselves on having "safe" campuses. Unfortunately, this isnot always the case.
On May 4, Katie Autry was found in her dorm room at WesternKentucky University with third and fourth degree burns, as well asstab wounds on her face and neck. She died on May 7. Her autopsyrevealed she had been brutally beaten and raped before being set onfire. She was only 18.
How could something like this happen? Quite easily, it seems.Campuses are not nearly as safe as they are made out to be. Katie'sstory is that she went to a party on Saturday night and then sheand one of her alleged assailants went to her room around 3 a.m.The other attacker was let into her room soon after. It becomes ahorrific nightmare from that point. The assailants sprayedhairspray on her vagina and breasts before setting her on fire.They also put towels around the sprinkler and the fire alarm in herroom to prolong the blaze and allow time for escape.
First, I am outraged by the fact that this story has not gottennational attention. The only solid research I could find is from aLouisville newspaper Web site, www.courier-journal.com. WKU hadnothing specific to say on their Web site, only that two men hadbeen arrested. They also did not indicate what they are doing nowto protect their students from violent crime on campus. Storieslike Katie's should be publicized on college campuses to promoteawareness. Public awareness, an absolute essential part ofeducation, should be an issue that is emphasized on all campuses.How did the second attacker get in the building? Who heard hercries but did not check on her or alert an RA? These are just twoof the questions.
Second, the reporting on this case incensed me. One AP article,written by Beth Campbell, announces in the first paragraph that thevictim "worked in a strip club even though her aunt said she was atrusting, na�ve young woman who was warned about the dangersof such places" (www.courier-journal.com). Why is it that in somany cases the victim suffers the blame? Her job as a stripper hasnothing to do with the attack. She had only worked there on fouroccasions because she was struggling to start life outside thefoster care system. An article written by a national media sourceshould know better than to place the blame on the victim when thefault clearly lies elsewhere.
The article fails to mention that she also worked at a coffeeshop. But really, that's not newsworthy or exciting. Coffee Shop?Boring. Strip Club? Sensational. She must have got what was comingto her. The article conveniently leaves out that she wasn't at thestrip club that night and that she did not meet the two allegedassailants at the club. She met them at a party on campus.
So what's the moral of this story? Be aware of yoursurroundings, wherever you are. And don't believe everything youread. Violence needs to be reported accurately without blaming thevictim.
Write to Courtney at sturgeoncourtney@hotmail.com
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