'Unspeakable' asks new questions about rape

By Jennifer Lesnick

Sunday afternoon, I attended the theatre department's presentation of "Unspeakable Acts," a collection of monologues aimed to educate college students about acquaintance rape.

It seems like every year since I began high school, I have been forced to attend mandatory informative "seminars" about rape. Based upon my past experiences, I had extremely low expectations for the show.

However, as the first act began, I realized that this particular performance was unlike anything else I have ever experienced.

I have to admit that the show was quite an experience. Many students may have entered and exited the Recital Hall with the belief that it was simply a bizarre show that made them feel slightly uncomfortable with truths that they would prefer to avoid. But the show brought up some important points to consider.

Instead of simply presenting the cold hard facts about rape, like countless shows I have seen before, the monologues actually placed students in the minds of all those involved with acquaintance rape: the victim, the perpetrator, the best friend and, surprisingly, even the onlooker who quietly ignores what is happening.

All of the monologues were brutally honest and forced the audience to reflect upon all the moments when they were in similar positions.

The audience had to consider the terrifying truth that makes acquaintance rape possible.

At the end of the show, I realized that you cannot just blame one person for the fact that rape occurs so frequently.

No matter how provocatively a girl dresses, she is not "asking for it."

Furthermore, no matter how much you have to drink, alcohol does not erase your accountability for actions committed.

Maybe it is impossible for me to follow my drunk friend everywhere she goes when we attend a party. However, it is the responsibility of good friends to do everything within their power to make sure that their friends are being safe and taking the necessary precautions.

The truth is that many of us fall short of truly protecting others and ourselves.

Instead of contemplating all the ways that we can protect one another, we either pretend that the situation doesn't exist or we kid ourselves into believing that there are limited precautions we can take. There are a number of unsafe situations in which we immerse ourselves simply because we are college students.

So now I ask you, is it worth it? At the next late-night house party, are you going to do everything you can to protect that pretty girl passed out on the couch? Or will you become the type of person who watches someone take advantage of her without stepping in to stop it?

The question is no longer about what constitutes rape. Instead, it has transformed into a number of questions:

How can you prevent rape from occurring?

How do you come to terms with yourself after it does happen?

And most importantly: What are you going to do now?

Jennifer Lesnick is a freshman English major.