I am writing in response to the commentary written by Gregg Bernstein regarding sexual assault policies on university campuses ("An overcorrection on campus sexual assault policies?" Feb. 15). I would like to address two main points — school interaction with law enforcement and the motivation behind sexual aggression.
First, the internal university dealings with sexual assault need to be reversed. Responding to sexual assault accusations requires extreme sensitivity and, even at a national level, the justice system struggles to reveal what has actually occurred. Universities should be required by law to report incidents to higher ups. Underreporting sexual assault is exceptionally high in college women, and some studies show that up to 95 percent of this demographic will not report. This needs to change. Women need to feel safer, and this is not being supplied by universities.
Second, Mr. Bernstein mentioned in the article that alcohol and other drugs are incorporated in many sexual assault cases and could even be the root cause. Focusing on this topic, though, will not cause change. I think Mr. Bernstein was onto a solution with restriction of alcohol, but, unfortunately, colleges have already been doing this to limited effect. So if discouraging groups from misusing alcohol will not work, what will? Sexual assault is not about the act of sex itself but it is more the control. Those who commit assaults focus on establishing fear, establishing power. Instead of groups for alcoholic students, universities should offer more support for aggressive students.
Overall, I think the op-ed was indeed eye opening for those who read it. Obviously, underreporting of sexual assault is a huge problem on college campuses and the universities simply are not helping enough. By understanding a few topics like sexual motivation and aggression, interventions can be made to correct college sexual assault policies.
Christopher Kunkel, Bel Air