The Hawk

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Features

Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is the most common date rape drug.

Gray rape, which typically involves alcohol-the most common date rape drug, despite popular belief-is an increasingly controversial issue especially on college campuses like Saint Joseph's University.

Gray rape is defined as situations where, after sexual activity, consent from either participant is disputable.

"You can't give consent when you're under the influence," said Courtney Gleckner, '08, a Rape Education and Prevention Program (REPP) member.

At the Living Learning program, Have Another Beer, hosted by RAs Elyse Busch, '09, and Chris Hoffman, in Borgia Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, REPP members and students discussed the issue of gray rape and its connection to alcohol at St. Joe's.

REPP members engaged the students by asking them questions concerning rape and alcohol, and asking them to reply by holding up red cards for disagreement and green cards for agreement.

The majority of students held up green cards in response to a question about "Roofies," such as GHB and rohypnol, being the most common date rape drug. REPP members Malia Butler, '08, and Gleckner responded that this was actually false, as alcohol is the most common date rape drug.

Ideas about rape and sexual assault are usually contrived prior to alcohol use. Alcohol is later used to justify an assailant's behavior.

However, the lines of gray rape are much more skewed.

"Victims may feel as though they didn't state their boundaries clearly," said Lynn Panepinto, '08, a senior REPP member. "Assailants may feel as though their victim was playing hard-to-get, or not expressing how far he/she wanted to go."

St. Joe's, like any other college or university, has a student social life that includes alcohol, despite the law. Whether in dorms or at off-campus parties, alcohol is readily available.

The Living Learning program revealed statistics about St. Joe's student's drinking habits in comparison to the national average.

Nationwide, about 57 percent of students do not use alcohol at college; however, at St. Joe's, only 29 percent of students do not use alcohol. The national average for students having 10 or more drinks in the past two weeks is seven percent, and for St. Joe's the average is 13 percent, according to REPP. The national average for chugging alcohol in a two-week period is 59 percent, while at St. Joe's, the average is 53 percent.

Continued...

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