Melissa Woodbury
New York
In her letter to The Daily Universe, the recent BYU student rape victim states all of the ways in which she could have avoided her attacker.
Unfortunately, she, like many victims, misplaces the blame of the horrible crime committed against her. She was not raped because she chose, like any other person would choose, to give the time to a stranger, no person should feel it necessary to turn and run every time he or she encounters a strange face. She was not raped as a result of walking home by herself, every person should have the right to feel safe walking by themselves at a decent hour. She was raped because someone chose to commit a violent act. Unfortunately, many people believe that the way in which to stop rape from occurring is to restrict the freedom of possible victims (most frequently women). However, women should not have to compromise the basic right of all people to exercise independence.
Although I believe that the buddy system has its place, a person cannot successfully live a full life if they are unable to go anywhere alone. Perhaps if the justice system treated rape as the serious crime that it is, and jailed, for life, those who victimize others through this violent act, men would think twice before attacking women. Until this crime is treated more seriously, rapists will continue to rape no matter how careful or paranoid their victims.