Rape Under the Influence: Sexual Assault on Campus

The statistics are chilling: 90% of date rapes go unreported, since the victim thinks she will not be believed; 61% of convicted rapists are repeat offenders; 75% of rapes are committed by acquaintances. As this frank video puts it: “Guns and knives are used by strangers. Dates use drugs and alcohol.” College campuses are especially high-risk environments--students are young and tasting freedom for the first time, and their judgment is often poor--with fraternity, sorority and athletic-related alcohol-soaked parties being prime locations for offenses. The centerpiece of this program is the brutally honest testimony of Jenny, a girl who was drugged and gang-raped by three prominent members of San Diego State's football team. Her chilling descriptions of the events leading up to, and beyond the horrifying encounter, offer a lesson in prevention (use common sense, be alert, listen to your gut instincts, and don't drink anything you didn't see prepared). Avoiding shock tactics, Rape Under the Influence instead focuses on eight college students, both male and female, who talk about the problem--and while there's a lot of confusion and excuses, the bottom line is that an intoxicated person cannot give legal consent for sex, which is the central issue behind the crime of date rape. While the contact information for RAINN, a leading resource for sexual abuse, is given twice, I would have liked to have seen more information concerning what to do if you are a victim of rape or attempted rape, how to defend yourself, etc. Still, this is recommended, overall, especially for college-bound seniors and incoming college freshman. Aud: H, C. (E. Gieschen)