Crisis Center not panacea for rape

I had the pleasure of attending the Student Union slate debate Monday night at the Tsai Performance Center, during which I was forced to sit through repeated questions and answers centered around the “Truants” slate’s platform proposal of the “absolutely necessary” construction of a rape crisis center on campus. After hearing many members of the “Truants” slate feed the audience repetitive justifications for why the center is necessary, I have formed my own opinion and resolution.

Unfortunately, it is a reality that a rape crisis center cannot be constructed on campus at this time. However, I do not believe that a center necessitates a priority status in the Union agenda as, in accordance to what was noted during the debate, no other major university in the area has a rape crisis center on campus. This fact may be a direct product of the student accessibility of the three rape crisis centers already present in the Boston area. I am not writing this to oppose the “Truants” slate’s concerns; however, I believe that the true matter at hand is not providing for rape victims, but preventing rape victimization. This can be done through educating the student body as to what resources are available to prevent rape situations on campus and in daily life.

All students need to be made aware of what the university offers them to prevent any type of assault, including rape. From the start, freshmen and transfer students need to recognize that Boston University’s urban environment can inevitably lead to dangerous situations. All students must prepare and educate themselves as to how to avoid such dangers. BU offers an escort service, which I believe and understand to be underutilized. The BU Police Department and emergency blue light phones also offer similar assistance. Nevertheless, the real resource is responsibility for personal safety. Students need to be aware of the situations they are putting themselves into and the possible risks and consequences involved. There is no substitute for good judgment. I understand that there are times when even the best judgment will not ensure safety, but if more students took this approach, the possibility is real that there would be fewer incidents that an on-campus rape crisis center would be needed for.

Here’s the deal: the key platform idea that “Truants” proposes is not absurd and would benefit both BU students and surrounding residents. The real solution is not a rape crisis center but rape crisis prevention. No slate can provide to the students what is most important. Good judgment needs to accompany living in Boston’s urban environment. Both BU and the city of Boston provide sufficient resources for those who need them. What the Union needs to do is use their influence to increase awareness and prevention so that a rape crisis center is not as necessary on campus as “Truants” and other students believe it to be.