Brava Lady Gaga – Bravo Majority Leader Senator Flanagan
By Maureen Rossi, Op-Ed
The Oscars are still trending to some degree, both good and bad but Lady Gaga’s performance needs to trend on!
She sang a ballad “Til It Happens to You,” at the annual awards. She co-wrote the Oscar-nominated song with Diane Warren for “The Hunting Ground,” that gave a voice to young women who have been raped on college campuses. She had dozens of SURVIORS come out onto the stage and joined hands with them as Gaga is a survivor too. The moving performance both warranted a standing ovation and paid some homage to the CNN documentary The Hunting Ground that aired in the fall.
HOW BAD IS SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES?
It’s bad enough that every single parent of a boy or girl in college or headed to college must get educated, see The Hunting Ground and have critical dialogues. Statistics vary – 1 in 4, 1 in 3, however, if you listen to the victims speak you will know it’s very high, it’s too high. CNN’s provocative documentary depicts the national problem occurring on campuses and universities in every corner of the nation. Some universities and colleges met the in your face piece with great criticism; they claim it portrayed there was a failure on their behalf to properly handle the serious matter of sexual assault. Maybe there was in some cases. Young victims of sexual assault on college campuses have been banding together and protesting to shine a light and call for change on campuses throughout the country.
The Huffington Post quoted a Journal of Adolescent Health Survey. They say nearly one in five college women were victims of rape or attempted rape during their freshman year. The Survey said most falling prey during their three months on campus.
Back in the spring, now that I’ve semi-retired from the heroin movement after 11 plus years this issue took front and center as it’s been on my radar for some time. I remember my now 26 year old daughter telling me when she was back in college how terribly serious the problem was. She was a Senator on Student Government in freshman year and then went on to oversee all the finances for the clubs and organizations on the entire campus. One of her committees was the Health Committee. She called it an epidemic in 2009 during her freshman year. She also traveled to conferences at other SUNY’s to speak to other student governments about this and other issues.
I talked my friend Legislator Leslie Kennedy back in the spring to discuss this critical problem and asked her to Chair the Committee. Months later CNN put out The Hunting Ground. .
Leslie and I reached out to women on the bench, women in the legislature women on Town Councils throughout the County as well as advocates and victims. We now have a cadre of strong smart women willing to STAND UP AND SAY NO MORE DATE RAPE ON CAMPUSES.
Hardly a female issue – young men must be educated to about legalities and whether they can be held culpable if merely in a house where sexual assault takes place. The days of dropping off HS Seniors with new bedding and credit cards are over – they need to be educated about Date Rape as do young people entering the work force.
The Program is officially launching and has partnered with Parents for Megan’s Law to put on a forty-five minute presentations at Suffolk High Schools called:
Staying Safe–Sexual Assault and Abduction Prevention for Teens
Parents for Megan’s Law takes a hard look; the non-profit has been on Long Island for two decades and is a household name. Director Laura Ahearn has won many prestigious awards.
Parents for Megan’s Law Who Are the Victims?
- According to the US Department of Justice, one person is raped every 2.7 minutes in the United States
- 1 out of every 6 American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
Ricks Factor for College Date Rape or Assault
- Alcohol is the single most significant risk factor in regard sexual assault. Victimization occurs frequently during and after social situations where the offender and the victim are drinking.
- Other dangerous substances that can put people at risk include date rape drugs including rohypnol, GHB, GBL, Ecstasy, Soma, Ketamine and bath salts are all fast acting and can be easy to put into a drink without being detected.
- Don’t drink anything from a punch bowl or something an odd appearance or smell.
- Don’t drink anything from an open container or beverage that tastes salty when it shouldn’t.
- Don’t leave a drink unattended or share or exchange drinks.
- Don’t accept beverages without seeing origin.
- Make a pact with your friends; look out for each other and make sure when you leave party or event together.
- Always walk or jog in groups and stay close to the curb away from shrubbery and doorway.
- The most likely place for sexual assault to occur is in the home, victim’s or offender’s. Keep your home secure by always locking your doors and windows.
- Don’t open the door to a stranger no matter who they say they are.
Majority Leader John Flanagan joined Governor Cuomo and singed Enough is Enough back in July; a most critical piece of legislation, the new law requires all colleges adopt a set of comprehensive procedures and guidelines, including a uniform definition of affirmative content, a state amnesty policy and expanded access to law enforcement and to ensure the safety of all student attending colleges in New York state. Senator Majority Leader Flanagan said, this new law will combat and root out sexual assault so our college campuses are safe learning environment for all students.
Although an outstanding tool in the fight against Sexual Abuse on College Campuses, it seems like a policy and procedure law. It appears as a great deal of the law is designed to help after a victim is raped. Prevention components might be included, however, is it too late as they are overwhelmed by the start of a new school, clubs, sports, missing family, new friends, harder schoolwork? Maybe it should occur earlier like Senior Year of high School so it’s fresh as they embark on their lives be it collegiate or career and it will provide a summer for parents to have several dialogues about this critical safety issue.
A Press Release will be issued in a week including all the names of women who want to get on the bus and STAND UP and SAY NO MORE DATE RAPE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES and after high school. If you want to be included or are a victim who wants to tell your story – contact Maureen Rossi at 917.975.4324 or maureen.l.rossi@gmail.com
The fall will prove too late to put on a program for far too many high school seniors from Suffolk County, they need the information now. Lady Gaga’s heart-wrenching performance included on young lady from Long Island. Lady Gaga trend on!