SDSU sued over sexual assault
I saw this headline today on the San Diego Union Tribune website. The story went on to say, "Two University of California Berkeley students who say they were raped by members of the San Diego State University rugby team a year ago are suing SDSU and the bar where they met some of the men." This seemed innocent enough. Then there was the 'MORE' button leading into the rest of the story. I clicked in and read how these two (underage) Berkeley women met two SDSU rugby players last year in a bar. Before you know it, panties and outdated Abercrombie and Fitch boxers are flying and the two boys are engaging in sexual intercourse with the two, probably intoxicated, "ladies." So far it sounds like it is consenual, at least the two co-eds are not claiming there was any wrongdoing, in fact they were probably having a good time, but that is neither here nor there.
Then the problem happens: since they were a travelling rugby ream, and since they were at the team's hotel, other rugy players (six of them!) rushed in and had their way with the women. As a humane person I was outraged. I imagine a loved one in the same situation. I would demand vengence. My anger would burn. Then the beast in me spoke. I imagined the scene: everyone's drunk, my friends are laughing, two drunk girls are naked, maybe they are enjoying it. What would I do? What decision would I make?
I find the scene arousing and repulsive at the same time. A chord that does not sit well with me. I feel as though I could fall down the slopes of either sentiment leading me to completely different life paths. I know how I would feel afterward. I would loath myself. My stomach would be twisted, my head would ache for weeks. I would turn into a shell. But how would I act in that moment under those circumstances?
I click off the article. "Forgetting about it is the best thing," I think. I dive into another web site. I make a couple phone calls. My mind ignores the finger-ribbing thought in my head that says "Think on the rape story. Spend some thought on it. I'm not going away. Hey! Over Here!" I think on it again. I entertain the thought. That is, I let it entertain me. Where will this thought virus go? To what corners will it wend its way, arriving at conclusions along its path like a pinball hits bumpers on its way down.
Overall conclusion: I wouldn't do it. I'd break it up. I'd fight my friends. I'd help the girls.
The conclusion isn't the important part. I already knew the answer, I suppose. The thought-ride was the interesting part. That's where I made up my mind. I thought it through, line by line. I had then convinced myself and I had done it through the careful study of each nuance. It didn't take long. Only about 20 minutes.
