Safety in Numbers or Safety in Gender?

There are many hot-button women's issues on college campuses today. Everything from sexual assault to gender discrimination in the classroom can come up and cause much controversy in our institutions of higher education. These well-publicized issues are important, but what do our students think?

When asked what the number one women's issue on college campuses today is, one might expect a variety of responses. However, here are some interesting reaction from FSU students...

Bridget Willingham is a freshman art major at Frostburg State University originally from La Plata, Maryland. After contemplating the subject of the number one women's issue for a moment, she said, "Girls are more vulnerable." She went on to explain how she feels that female college students can be more vulnerable especially when alone and it is important to remember to travel in groups.

Next, a Graduate student perspective was gained on the subject. Jessica O'Neil from Mechanicsville, Maryland is pursuing her M.S. in counseling psychology at Frostburg State University. She had a particular interest in the subject of women's issues as she is a part of the V-Day campaign. She also had the view that safety (as far as vulnerability to sexual assault and violent in general) is the number one issue for female college students. "Especially at night", she added in order to elaborate on her meaning of safety.

To end, it is important to look at a male perspective on this topic. Mike Schoelen is in his second year at FSU and is studying environmental planning and analysis. His hometown is Frederick, Maryland. Once again, the first thought that came to mind when asked about college women's issues was safety. When asked to specify what exactly he meant by safety, he elaborated by saying, "Off-campus safety is especially important".

With all of the well-publicized issues out there on women's issues, it is extremely interesting that all three of the interviewees had basically the same exact answer with a bit of unique elaboration. More and more these days personal safety and violence seems to be growing as less of an issue for youth in general, and more of an issue for women. Of course, men are also assaulted and they become the victims as well. However, we see more often than not that women are the victims. Ms. O'Neil brought up one great point that I would like to close with. There are ways that women can protect themselves and ways that everyone can do their part to educate and help end this violence on women. The V-Day campaign has the goal to eliminate violence against women and many colleges campuses (even FSU!) has a chapter of the organization. V-Day puts on many educational programs such as "Vagina Monologues". If you would like to learn more about this important organization or if you would like to get involved, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2dt9uj7