So in the past few weeks, we have encountered multiple attacks against women on the UBC campus. These attacks have been targeted against young women who have been walking alone late at night around campus. Of the four girls that have been attacked, they have all been wearing skirts and been dragged off main roads into the woods while walking alone. This have raised concern and awareness to the RCMP on campus and local students, staff, and the general public around Vancouver.
It has been a topic of discussion between almost all students and staff throughout campus. I can personally say that it has been something that has been brought up in each of my classes and it has always been regarding how women can protect themselves and stay safe in these times. But what advice should be given for men? Why can men walk freely without having to worry about being assaulted or accused.
To this, I wanna bring up how in my Political Science class on monday, one young man brought up about how after the third assault, he had many of his friends calling and texting him question if it was him that was attacking these women. They were saying that he looked exactly like the description of the attacker. He also mention how he feels attacked and worried for his safety now and possibly being mis-accused for something he has no relation to. From a guy who doesn’t live on campus and never stays on campus past 4pm, he felt victimized.
To this, the description of the man preforming these attacks is very vague and does not describe a certain individual alone, instead can connect to a large group of men. Another ironic thing that I realized the other day was we are having these attacks now after the exposure of the Sauder School of Business rape chants that occurred after Sauder frosh. Could these attacks be an act of rebellions’ against UBC for the ban of frosh for years to follow?
I believe that men and women should be warned and protected equally while these attacks are taking place. It may be a feminist thought, but all men and women should be looked at equally in a way the men should not be aloud to walk freely without having to worry while women must not walk alone and must be ready in case an attack may come for them.
Though I agree that both men and women should take precautions and assume responsibility for the safety of others while walking on campus at night (or any time of the day), I’m concerned with your point regarding retribution for the loss of Sauder Frosh. Are you implying that the shutdown of rape culture in one sector inspires the creation of another? Why would students feel the need for retribution against obvious, and acceptedly shameful, wrongdoings? However clear it may be that there are many problems surrounding the dialogue sexual assault, the core of its continuance comes back to assumptions. Both male and female students need to exhibit stronger agency in combating rape culture, whether that be promoting campus safety resources or eliminating underlying sexist stigma in the dialogue, like your irrelevant “skirt” comment.