I am currently a graduate student and intern at the Women’s Center. I was also the lead in the Court of Carolinas Flag Display. I am writing in response to the article by John Wall on the front page, April 5. I appreciate the attention drawn to our passive program and to the seriousness of rape and sexual assault on our campus. The article that Mr. Wall wrote brought up some good points: rape does happen to men, and “women are not the only victims.” However, Wall seems to focus on two major points throughout his article: rape or sexual assault prevention on behalf of women, and rape or sexual assault by strangers. This focus is problematic for a few different reasons.  

The first is that the majority of these acts committed by men to women. Focusing on preventative measures that women can take is an act of blaming the survivor, victim, and has ultimately been ineffective. In support of Jackson Katz’s ideology, reframing the issue as a men’s issue, since men are mostly committing it, begs the question, what are men doing to prevent rape or sexual assault?  

The second issue is that an estimated 80 percent of rape or sexual assault is committed by someone the survivor knows. The focus on non-acquaintance rape that Mr. Wall presents paints a false perspective of the current state of rape and sexual assault.  For more information, please contact The Movement via the N.C. State Women’s Center.

Nicholas Mueldener

graduate student, higher education administration