It's the fourth week of the school year, and the risk of sexual assault is high. The heightened risk will continue for another three weeks while we are in the Red Zone.
So what is the Red Zone? Why all the hype?
The Red Zone represents the time when the risk of sexual assault runs high on college campuses.
Only two cases of sexual assault were reported last year on campus and two the year before, granted. But sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes, and it's important for students to take caution.
Freshmen, listen up. We want you to stay safe. You're in college now, and you may feel invincible. You may have even been to your first house party.
Before you go buck wild, just consider these statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
One in four college women are victims of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault during their college careers. And women aren't the only victims. About 10 percent of sexual assault victims are men. More than 100,000 college students each year report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex.
Sexual assault is preventable. Elsewhere in the paper, a peer advocate for the Office of Victim Services, Christine Hurst, said there's a correlation between the use of drugs and alcohol and an assault. Also, the victim should never be blamed if an assault does occur.
But why put yourself in a dangerous situation? Take caution when you go out with friends — don't leave your drink on the table or go to a party without a good friend who has your back.
We agree with the univerity's peer counselor — the victim shouldn't be to blame. But we can still be prudent, exercising caution instead of giving in to substances that lower our inhibitions.
Let's keep each other accountable.
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