Rape is not about sex but instead about power and control over another person, a forensic nurse examiner said Thursday.
Kathy Hutson, who works at the St. Vincent's Center of Hope, one of six sexual assault treatment centers in Indianapolis, talked to students about why rapes happen and what to do afterwards to help insure that the rapist goes to jail.
"About 20 percent of college women are victims of an attempted or completed rape during their college careers," Hutson said. "Only about one out of 20 of the perpetrators of those rapes reported will ever spend a day in jail."
She said that those numbers have been improving in the last decade because of the improvement in public education about rape and the increase of forensic nurse examiners who are collecting evidence and giving testimony in court.
Hutson stressed the importance of not destroying the evidence after a rape has taken place.
"Evidence is what puts perpetrators in jail," Hutson said. "It is important that evidence is not destroyed. The sooner a victim can get to a center, the better."
Hutson said that people who have been sexually assaulted need to seek help from a trained professional for their own health as well.
"Victims of rape have been under a tremendous stress, the physical trauma will heal, but the psychological effects may linger," Hutson said. "The main thing you can do for a friend who has been sexually assaulted is to be supportive and encourage them to seek help."
Hutson said that the majority of college rapes take place on dates where alcohol, the number one date rape drug, is involved. Gamma Hydroxybutyrate and Rohypnol, also known as "roofies," are also common date rape drugs on college campuses. The ease of obtaining the drugs and their low costs are the prime reasons for their popularity.
Junior Quincy Duran, a criminal justice major, said she enjoyed the presentation.
"It was very informative; it went into deeper detail than a lot of the classes I have taken," Duran said.
The presentation wrapped up the 10th annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week on Ball State's campus.
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