Gene McAbee, director of public safety at Western Carolina University, led a discussion about alcohol, date rape and the effects of alcohol abuse on victimization Tuesday night to a group of students at the Methodist student union.
The discussion is a part of the Wesley Foundation’s lecture series entitled “Reality Bites,” which will involve a variety of different issues that arise on a college campus.
The lecture began with McAbee discussing the WCU crime statistics and the relationship between crime on campus and alcohol.
McAbee has been investigating sex offenses since 1975 when he worked with the Greenville, NC police department. He has worked on college campuses since 1980 when he began working at East Carolina University.
According to McAbee, about 80 percent of the crime committed on Western Carolina’s campus is alcohol related. This, of course, also includes date rape.
Last year WCU had three reported cases of rape. All of these were cases of date rape. There has not been a case reported of stranger rape since 1988.
This seems to be a small number of incidences, but the numbers do not tell the whole story.
According to the FBI, on average, only ten percent of rape cases are reported. Based on this information, McAbee estimates that last year there might have been closer to 30 instances of rape at WCU. He also estimates that in about 95 percent of date rape instances one of the parties involved has consumed alcohol.
Although the number of reported incidents is only three, the problem of date rape is still a reality.
“Attention to date rape has gone down in past years,” said McAbee, and added “that it may be unfortunate because women might not realize that they need to do things to protect themselves.”
He also stated that it could be unfortunate for males as well because they may not realize that they place themselves in jeopardy when they use force to initiate sexual contact.
This doesn’t mean that students, male or female, should be fearful; rather, be cautious. McAbee suggest that women should be careful at any place where there is a large number of people, be it at a fraternity party, in the residence halls, or at any other event that includes alcohol and or drugs.
At the end of the presentation the group discussed alcohol and date rape. Most of the conversation was directed toward binge drinking, what causes it, and how to help prevent it. It was a lively discussion, but no real answers were found.
The Wesley Foundation is continuing its lecture series entitled “Reality Bites” with a discussion next month on evolution. More information can be obtained by contacting the Wesley Foundation at 293-9214.
