(Content warning: This story mentions rape and sexual assault.)
Being a woman is walking alone at night, keys between your fingers. Being a woman is constantly watching your drink, even if it’s right in front of you. Being a woman is making up excuses for a man to stop talking to you because a simple “no” is not a good enough answer. Being a woman is having to be careful of what you wear because it’s “too distracting” or “she’s asking for it.” Being a woman is being burdened by years of patriarchal thinking that no matter what is done to us, the root of the problem is something we did, never them.
The Violence Against Women Act was first passed in 1994 to improve legal protections and access to services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Yet more than three decades later, women are still navigating the risk of sexual violence, particularly on college campuses.
When you go to college, everyone tells you, “This is the time of your life.” For many, it’s the first time being away from their parents without a safety net. But for many female college students, it also means learning rules their male counterparts rarely have to follow: “Don’t drink too much,” “Never walk anywhere alone,” and “Always watch your drink.”
The rules go on and on, and they get exhausting.
Why is this normal? Why are women forced to organize their lives around the possibility of facing violence? Why is it still their fault when something goes wrong?
Recent headlines surrounding the Cornell Seven case have brought these questions back into focus. In October 2024, a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven men associated with the Chi Phi fraternity.
In September 2026, a civil lawsuit was filed against the men and other defendants, including Cornell University. Cornell’s disciplinary process, reported by The Cornell Sun, included: “Two defendants were expelled, two defendants were suspended and issued disciplinary probations, one defendant was issued a persona non grata, and two defendants were issued no-contact orders, “educational modules,” and “reflection papers.” According to CBS News, as of Oct. 6, 2026, the case is still ongoing, and no charges have been filed against the accused.
This case is nothing new. Women on college campuses are consistently affected by sexual violence. In 2017, The Journal of Sex Research examined the widely cited statistic that approximately one in five women experiences sexual assault during college.
Universities advertise themselves as communities where students should feel safe, supported, and free to build their futures. But many women are expected to create and provide their own safety.
And when something does happen, the school’s responsibility should not end there. Survivors may have to relive what happened while speaking to police, administrators, or investigators. They must navigate campus life while still attending classes, seeing classmates, and potentially encountering the person they say harmed them.
Why is it that when a woman reports an assault, her credibility is questioned? Having the courage to speak out about a horrible moment in your life is difficult enough, yet it can be overshadowed by “Do you really want to ruin this kid’s life?” as if that person didn’t take away part of yours.
Universities have policies against violence, Title IX officers, sexual violence prevention programs, campus police, and counseling centers. Yet having resources available doesn’t necessarily mean students trust them enough to use them. Resources are only valuable if a student feels safe using them.
The problem also cannot simply be reduced to alcohol or parties.
College students drink. College students go to parties. College students “hook up”. However, none of those things constitute consent, and none of them excuse sexual violence.
Yet women are still taught that drinking too much makes them responsible for what happens next. We tell women to keep their drinks with them instead of telling everyone that taking someone’s drink, drugging it, or taking advantage of an intoxicated person is unacceptable. We tell women not to walk home alone instead of asking why walking home alone has become something women should fear.
The burden of bad behavior continuously falls on the victim rather than the person who chooses to cause harm.
This is where the Cornell Seven case should force colleges to look internally. The question should not only be whether universities punish students after allegations are made. It should be whether they are creating cultures where students understand consent, intervene when they see someone being pressured, and recognize that silence or incapacitation is not consent.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org.