Rape on College Campuses: A University or Public Concern?

Rape on college campuses has been a rising issue for many years, and as a result colleges are starting to implement programs to educate their students on sexual conduct. BCC actually did something similar to this last semester where all student where required to complete educational online program that taught us about sexual conduct, when it’s okay to engage in it, when it’s not etc. Not too long ago I read a story from Rolling Story about an incident that occurred on the University of Virginia. In September of 2012, a UVA student who came to be known as “Jackie” entered college, eager to make new friends. She ended up being invited to Frat party by a Boy she happened to be attracted to. Once at the party, the Boy convinced her to come to his room, for the typical college “hook up”. However, not long after being in the dark room, she learned that they weren’t the only two in the room. In fact there were seven others, who wasted no time in committing this unimaginable act. It’s not something that should be gone into detail about, but she will certainly never be the same. As someone who would never even think about laying a violent hand on a woman, I was appalled by what happened here. Even worse, “Jackie” was pressured to not come out about the event by her peers, and worse yet, the school administration. Who both said that this story would ruin the School’s prestigious reputation. So not only does this poor girl have to live with the fact that this happened to her, but she can’t even tell anyone about it without being socially persecuted for doing so. Things like this are happening everywhere, in fact Bridgewater State University was involved in a scandal involving two rapes that occurred last September. Administration failed to notify students and faculty of those rapes, and they underwent considerable backlash. It is clear that these universities do not want that there reputation tarnished. But that’s not right, no one should be told to keep silent about rape, and students and faculty certainly deserve to know when they occur. It’s for everyone’s safety, and it’s sickening that this happens. If you are a victim or you know someone who is a victim, speak out, let justice be served. Don’t just stand there and do nothing, be the voice for the people who don’t have one.

Read the articles for yourself below:
 

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/a-rape-on-campus-what-went-wrong-20150405?page=3

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/01/bridgewater-state-univ-fails-notify-students-alleged-rapes/NLO2NNfYdWU31VdjALoVcI/story.html

Domestic Abuse: Why Do We Stand By?

This particular social experiment struck in multiple ways. One, because I am drummer so I can relate to the beginning of the experiment. But more importantly, my sister was a victim of domestic abuse, so instances like this really hit home with me. In this experiment, a man sets up a drum set in a very tight knit community and starts playing. Naturally, and I’ve experienced this multiple times, one person after another came knocking on the door complaining of the noise. The next night, in the same apartment, he set up a PA system and wired an audio clip of a domestic abuse incident through it. The sound was very audible, almost as audible as the drum set. Yet the really sad part is, not one person knocked on the door to see what was going, or even attempt to help. After watching this I thought to myself, “So I could be playing my own drums, and have complaint after complaint. But when someone is being abused, and you can hear things being smashed around the house, no one is going to say a thing?” What kind of world do we live in when we have no concern for other people, a pretty doomed one that’s what. There’s actually been multiple psychological studies which state that you’re more likely to be helped by those around you, when there are less people around you. It appears the human conscious is wired to put the responsibility on other people, and we will only act when we feel that responsibility is in our hands alone. So remember, if you’re going to get mugged, make sure it happens in a secluded alley way with only a few people around, and not in the middle of time square. Honestly, this video left me truly disgusted, and all I can say, please don’t be a by stander. Show compassion, show concern, and start standing up for each other. Because if we don’t have each other, who do we really have?

Pharmaceutical Reps: The Ethics Behind Marketing To Doctors

Recently, I watched a segment of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”, an HBO series in which comedian John Oliver approaches debatable topics with a comedic touch. This particular segment discussed marketing to doctors, which caught my attention immediately being that I’m very involved in business/marketing. Essentially the main idea was this, pharmaceutical companies employ representatives to sell to doctors/ encourage them to prescribe to patients. They also contract doctors to do press conferences, or commercials about their drug. Which at first look seems like logical, and ethical marketing. However, consider this, many of these pharmaceutical representatives are attractive young women, and they do this for a reason. The idea behind any pharmaceutical deals is to draw the doctors in, and they do this through sexual attraction, free lunch which reps often bring to the office, and commissions. I can’t think of a more UN ethical business model than bribing doctors to prescribe patients their drug. So essentially what this is telling me is that if I go to a doctor, and they prescribe a medication for whatever is ailing me, which may be the reason they may be doing so is because they are contracted in some way by a pharmaceutical company? Drugs are a serious business, and not something that should be prescribed because you have been swayed with a beautiful women, free lunch, and cash for representing their drug. These drugs have the potential to kill you, and in fact my Aunt was a victim of negligent doctor. She was prescribe two drugs that she shouldn’t be taken together, and unfortunately lost her life because of it. And it’s no wonder why these doctors would be so negligent when they’re being bribed with thousands of dollars to say, “Oh you have a cough, I have just the cure.” Next time you go to a doctor, I strongly encourage you to ask your doctor if the drug they are prescribing are ones they are being paid to represent.