The Freaks Don't Want No Greeks

The local news has been running a story at the top and bottom of every hour. Fraternities and sororities at San Diego State University have been shamed into suspending social activities indefinitely. Probably until they complete "sexual violence and bystander training."

Fraternities stand accused of harassment, including shouted epithets, and eggs being thrown at marchers taking part in a "Take Back The Night" rally. When the marchers passed in front of one fraternity house, fraternity members waved sexual devices at them. Considering how ubiquitous cell-phone cameras are, and the preoccupation these youngsters have with social media, one wonders why there isn't any video that confirms these reports.

The TV station interviewed a local student, Jordan Busse, who related this tale of harassment. The rally was in response to a reported fourteen sexual assaults on campus since the beginning of the school year. This high number confounds anyone who has been paying attention, such as the Union Tribune, who reported four days ago about the seventh sexual assault involving an SDSU student since the beginning of the school year. A quick scan of the article reveals that nearly all of these occurred off campus.

Even one sexual assault is one too many. One problem we should keep in mind is that the definition of sexual assault has been devalued and appears to be fluid. For example, the Department of Justice defines 'forced kissing' as sexual assault. It may only be a matter of time before unwanted looks or catcalls are violations of the criminal code.

This redefining of sexual assault serves to devalue the true victims of sexual assault. For example, about six weeks ago there was a sexual assault reported in a San Diego neighborhood. The details are very frightening: The assailant entered a woman's apartment at two o'clock in the morning, wielding a knife. He then sexually assaulted the woman.

It is understandable that a news outlet would not want to publish certain lurid details involving cases like this. They may wish to imply that the woman was raped, but cannot, because these details involve sensitive things that the police and victim wish to keep to themselves. We are just relieved that the woman survived, and hope that she can recover emotionally.

Jordan Busse is described as a 'survivor,' although we are not told what it is she survived. It probably does a disservice to group the victim who survived the knife-wielding assailant with Jordan Busse. Her ordeal may have been to be drunkenly groped at a college mixer. We are not told. We are empowered only to empathize with her, and champion her cause, lest we side with her "attacker."