http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiFD6EFVsTg )           

Sex.  Say it again. Sex.  Just let it sink in.  Sexy, sexy sex.  Let the sounds roll over your tongue for a bit. Ssseeexxxxxx.

            …

            Still nothing, huh?

Somehow, just “sex” isn’t enough to get our generation all hot and bothered anymore.  (Which isn’t to say that sex isn’t normal and healthy.  Viva la reverse cowgirl!)  Technology has given our society some weird things to deal with, like glow-in-the-dark condoms, vibrator apps for your iPhone, or the word “sext.”  If we delve deeper into the more sensual side of 21^st century technology, we encounter the weirdest representation of modern-day sex that one could ever dream of: The fluffed and waxed world of internet pornography.

            I hate to break it to Rick Santorum, but porn can play a big part in helping a person figure out their sexy side.  With waning sex ed. in schools, kids with questions about their bodies might find it easiest to type “vagina” into Google and hope for the best.  People may be defining their sexuality in the cold glow of their computer screen, and as I’m sure you know, XXX sites don’t often specialize in consensual sex in the missionary position.  For the most part, that’s ok.  If you like watching same-sex couples, go ahead! Do you like that one blowjob video with the three girls in pigtails all up on that one guy’s boner?  Cool!  Is looking at people spanking each other with rubber spatulas doing it for you?  Have at it!  Did you keep a straight face through watching pterodactyl porn*?  Well… That might be an issue.  Which leads me to my next point-

            Just because it’s out there doesn’t mean it’s necessarily possible, or probable, or won’t get you slapped in the face.  If you’re partnered with a dude, chances are his penis isn’t going to be that big.  If you’re partnered with a lady, chances are she’s not that flexible.  And no matter who you partner with, that “dirty talk” is going to sound weird the first couple times you try it.**

            Overall, technology, by nature, makes things less real.  Remember how the world both complained and rejoiced when breast implants started getting popular?  “Oh, they’re so fake, but OMG BOOBS.”  Now they look more natural than ever, and when combined with labiaplasty or vaginoplasty (Wiki it, folks), they can create the model sexual being***.  I’m going to burst a lot of bubbles here:

            Real sex isn’t like that.

            You might lose your balance.  People might have a gag reflex.  There could be queefing.  You might not have an orgasm.  There should be condoms.  People might prefer some happy-cuddly coitus instead of screaming your name and waking the roommate.  It’ll probably be messy.  You might want to discuss a safe word.  And your O-face is probably hilarious.

            BUT I DIGRESS.

            Okay, time for the highlight reel of technology and sexuality (or #technsex, for when you tweet about this.)  Technology might be your first experience with sex.  That’s fine.  It can help you figure out (parts of) what you like and don’t like within the confines of your locked room with the blinds down.   However, don’t expect your actual bedtime romps to be like what you’ve seen in porn.  To quote Holly Pervocracy, “It wasn’t until I got out in the sexual real world that I knew you could smile during sex.”

            Smile on, kittens.  Smile on.

*If you actually know the video to which I am referring, bless your soul.  And call me later.

**By “first couple times,” I really mean “every. single. time.”

***Because according to porn, the model sexual being is a perky, young, blond virgin.  Duh.  

Let’s talk about Sex, shall we?   Sex is a beautiful thing, it’s a moment when two human beings—or three, or four for that matter, I don’t yuck anyone’s yum—come together, both emotional and physically. That’s how I see Sex, but I’m not trying to say I have a romantic view of it entirely, I’m well aware of how dirty it can be, and how many don’t share my viewpoint, and that’s fine. I’m just trying to say that Sex isn’t something that should be seen as a bad thing. Sadly, in our society, Sex has such a negative image, and yet we are bombarded with sexualized imagery on a regularly basis through things like advertising, television, etc.  This distorted view of Sex has helped perpetuate many myths surrounding the topic.

            Dear reader(s), I guess you can see this entry as a mission statement of sorts. As a  Sexual Health Advocate, I want to break down these distorted views, and help people live healthy and safe lives. With the proper information on sexual health, I can provide peple with the tools help protect themselves, and they can protect their partners, and so on. That’s what I see in my future as a SHA, helping others, and breaking down these myths, even if I can get through to one person at a time. I know I’ve succeeded as SHA because that one person will hopefully take what they learned from me and take it out into the world.  I won’t just be a SHA while at Rutgers; I will continue to be a SHA the rest of my life.  I’ve seen people who should know better give misinformation, adults for that matter, which is a scary thing to hear and see. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but as they say, “Knowledge is Power”, and I want people to have power over their bodies.

“They applauded me. They cheered when I said I would leave, when I said I would walk away from him, when I said I wouldn’t let anyone treat me like that.” As my friend told me this, part of me was not surprised at all. It seems so easy for all of us to think that walking away is easy. It is easy to ask, “Why would you stay?” and it is even easier to think we would never do the same.

She had been in a skit, performing for our own Rutgers community, in a peer education setting acting as a victim-blaming character. As she embodied her character, the audience applauded as she declared to the victim, that she would never stay. Now, I know that in a society where we always question the victim and seem to forget to question the perpetrator, it does not seem uncommon for this to occur. So why is it still worth mentioning? I would say because accepting it would be too much of a fault on society as a whole; a detrimental act for all victims, survivors and advocates of domestic violence.

If anything, we can all attest to the fact that we have questioned ourselves in this scenario: what would I do? Or maybe what is worse, we may not have even questioned ourselves but automatically assumed our actions would be different, better, stronger. But can someone who is not in that situation really know how it feels? Can someone who is not in the situation really understand the emotions that are beneath the surface? I would say no, academically I think we can all understand, we can all take a test about it and repeat the statistics yet to be in the situation is in another realm altogether. I think we can all say “abusers are bad”, or “I am against abuse”, those are easy to say, those are socially acceptable yet what is also accepted is the hidden meaning behind it. The idea that if victims left after it happened once, abusers wouldn’t be doing it anymore. Because that’s easy too, to think that one has the power and control, that one can prevent it from happening, that no one can do that “to me”.

So what would we do? Domestic violence takes many different shapes, it occurs in various forms beyond physical abuse. A common form of control taken on the victim is the choice of birth control or other type of sexual activity. So as we fight and critique politicians who are  trying to control women’s bodies and are against contraception, it becomes hard for us to imagine why a woman will allow their partner to do the same. To take control of her body or her sexuality: why would she allow it? How about we start to ask: why would the abuser do this, why would they want to control them and what makes them think this is ok? The change in questions makes all the difference in the world; it creates a space for safety and support. I get it, it’s scary to think that living in an “individualistic” society someone can have control over us or exert power over us and I believe that is partly why we question the victim instead. We dearly clutch onto the notion that we are stronger, better and safer.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to stay this way. As I write this, I think about all the times I have spoken up, all the times I have been ignored and judged because of it but I also think of all the people I stood up for and all the people who did listen and maybe even for a second looked at domestic violence in a different perspective.

As a human being, we all identity by different titles: student, daughter, brother, son, sister, cousin, friend, lover, pet-owner, the list goes on. Some of our identities are given to us at birth such as male or female. However, I think it’s interesting to question whether the gender given to us is identifiable by the body we wear or perhaps in the way that we see own own self. Gender has been socially constructed for us since we were old enough to open our eyes. Being a female, my room was pink and I had a long line of Barbie dolls waiting for me to play with in addition to some constructive games like blocks and plastic tools because I grew up with an older brother as well. Why is it that gender seems to be socially constructed? The girls like pink and the boys like blue. The girls get Barbies and get to play dress up while the boys get flying planes, GI Joe, Hot Wheels cars, and construction tools. Gender, something that is seemingly natural, is socially constructed down to the core and is only noticed when it is abruptly violated.

                  Think of it like this, a boy drops his hammer and screwdrivers and wanders over to Barbie’s playhouse. He likes the idea of playing with Barbies and playing dress up with his sister in frilly dresses and princess crowns. Many people’s immediate thought is that this sort of “abnormality” makes him less of a man, as if it is almost a precursor for the boy to grow up to be a homosexual. WHY? I think that gender is something that should be approached with utmost sincerity and simplicity; you are what you are. Sometimes, there may be times where people feel like they are not born into the correct bodies. Imagine waking up one day and instead of fulfilling your day as you do every day, being your typical college student,you’re feeling slightly more sluggish than usual. You barely heard the toaster go off. Your clothes seem to fit you very loosely because you’re very frail. Maybe your diet did pay off! However as soon as you left your dorm, you realized you forgot what class you were even going to, or what day it was. Someone says hi but gosh darn, you can’t see very well who they are. Something feels out of place. Only when you look in the mirror you see your normal body and youthful face, but upon further analyzing of yourself, you feel like you are in fact 85 years old because you can only tolerate Frank Sinatra and not that god awful music that Skillrex produces. You have no idea what happened. Even though you aren’t sure why you are still in your body, you can only identify yourself as being 85 years old. Is there anything wrong with that?

                  Those who identify as a different gender from what they physically appear  are not sick in anyway. Your identity is something you feel from deep inside your heart. An identity is something you’re comfortable with and qualities that you can identify with yourself as. Being yourself and following your heart was never a crime, yet society always plays it out to be a crime when it comes to gender identity as well as your sexual identity. I identify as a Caucasian, heterosexual female and an ally of the LGBTQ community. However, I am not easily aware of the discrimination that others of a different sexuality face. I am equally unaware of the privilege that society has carved out for solely my sexuality. I do not face discrepancies with obtaining a marriage license with my partner. I am not in danger of losing the precious relationship with my parents and friends because they are not in support of my sexuality. I do not have conflict when adopting a child. I am not asked what caused my sexuality. My sexuality is not looked at as if it were a phase that I am to grow out of. It is not suggested I try aversion therapy for my sexuality.

                  Society places a lot of limitations on people simply by the titles by which they identify. No one has ever given me an issue for identifying as a student, yet when one is to question their true identity in terms of the sexuality, or gender, it becomes a social abnormality. I’m writing this entry not in a condescending manner or to praise a certain group over another. Think of the scenarios I’ve presented to you and how they affect your life when someone gives you a hard time. Think about someone giving you  bad lip because of something you felt about yourself deep down within your heart. 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Transgender, Transsexual, Genderqueer, Genderfuck, Cis; these are just a few of the common words that people who do not subscribe to an exclusively heterosexual orientation use to describe themselves. The fact that I just constructed that sentence framing ‘other’ orientations in terms of heterosexuality speaks to how the concept of ‘straight’ as normal and anything ‘other’ as something excessive, abnormal, or incorrect are ingrained in our minds. The language we speak on a daily basis is a product of how are minds are trained to function.

A simplified view of the construction of this mental training suggests that as children in America, we learn mostly from (a) heterosexual parent(s) or guardian(s), the physical structure of a sexual relationship before we even understand what sex is. These concepts are reinforced by mainstream entertainment and advertizing, where the ‘ideal’ relationships are portrayed as both monogamous and heterosexual. We learn to talk about these relationships and compare them to others; anything deviant is labeled as such, and in a sense we consider it the wrong way to live.

Language is a powerful way of categorizing knowledge. We do this almost inherently for a multitude of reasons: to make our lives less stressful, to asses threats, to communicate our needs. This categorization can also be a negative thing. In labeling people’s sexual preferences, we do several things.

First, we revoke the fluidity of their orientation. It is uncertain at this point exactly what makes up people’s sexual orientation, whether it is a fact of biology, a developmental process, or a complicated combination of both. The fact is, it is too simplistic to say that something ‘causes’ a person’s orientation. The American Psychiatric Association and other prominent mental health groups have asserted that it isn’t a choice, but even if it was, that should not make a difference as to how we treat others. People’s sexual preferences may change with many factors, age, experience, etc. To label someone as ‘gay’ automatically assigns to them a sexual profile; such as the expectation of only having male sexual partners, when they may want other things as well. 

When we label others, we also assign them to a class, a place in the social hierarchy. There are hundreds of different hierarchies in this country; ones based on class, race, etc. When we place someone in a class, we are assessing their worth to us; their worth, as if humans were currency. ‘Worth’ in this case could potentially be defined as how much we relate to or have in common with the person we label. We can however, begin to disengage with this ingrained, systematic bias. And the first tool in our sexual anarchist’s toolbox is language.

For example, many people in the LGBTQ (an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning) community have started to favor using the word ‘queer’ in reference to self-definition. What used to be a slur for people of non-heterosexual orientation has been reclaimed and repurposed into a widely accepted umbrella term for people who don’t identify as strictly heterosexual. It has even gone so far as to be used to define people who have sex for pleasure instead of procreation, or those who are inclined towards kink or BDSM, which makes the term inclusive of heterosexuals. Repurposing language in this fashion is the beginning of how we eliminate bias.

The language we use can dehumanize us, and the people we care about, so let’s reconstruct it to better suit our needs. We can, and are, slowly reconstructing language; from gender-neutral pronouns to the ever-expanding definition of the word ‘queer’. Homophobia is a learned behavior; it starts in the brain and ends in words with which take away someone’s dignity. Lets do ourselves a favor and lighten up on our language, so we can lighten up on each other. 

In the next two days I will be lucky enough to say that I will have been in a happy and loving relationship with a beautiful girl for a year now. This time last year I can honestly say that I would have never thought I could even have a normal stable relationship. To me, this is the first real relationship I have ever been in. I have, of course, talked to people and had marginal commitment to them; however nothing to this degree. To be candid I did not think I was mature enough to be in one. The one major thing that I have learned from being in a relationship is how key communication is.

            I realized that the reason I initially was hesitant of relationships was because of the many problems I had seen friends go through in their relationships. It always, without fail, would come down to communication problems. My favorite communication error is when one of my friends would call me about how they just “…can’t be their significant other anymore due to all of these issues and actions.” My first question to them is the same every time. “Well, have you spoken to them about it?” The question is always no. It is consistently disheartening to hear. It makes me question why people are so afraid to talk to their significant other about a problem concerning them. If you cannot communicate with the person you are generally spending most of your energy and time with then there are some huge issues to address.

            I made sure that when I chose to get into this relationship I would not make the same mistakes my friends have made. I chose to make an effort and make sure to communicate as much as I can. In my relationship I am definitely the person who takes initiative to ask if something is wrong and if we can talk about it. I am also very open, blunt, and concise when I speak. The problem is I am very good at talking, however sometimes I do not listen as well. The only reason I can come up with as to why this has not become a huge problem is that I also recognize it is an issue of my mine and I take responsibility when the time comes. I know myself and when she says “I told you this before though.” I can safely say, “You’re probably right I just do not remember now and I’m sorry.” We are able to end it with that. Even though we have different viewpoints on certain issues we are able to separate those viewpoints from the relationship itself. It does take a certain sense of maturity to speak to your partner in a level headed manner and take pride out of the equation. In relationships, you must learn to compromise and you will learn your flaws very quickly. I personally think as long as both individuals are willing to understand, communicate, and work on those  flaws ,there really should be no problem.

            My girlfriend is my best friend. If something terrible is going on in my life I know the first person I want to talk to and be with at that moment. She is able to understand me when I am talking and when I’m not as well. She is not afraid to give me an honest opinion and put me in my place as I to her. Without equal and fair balance within the couple there will be no harmony. We often joke that we just fit together. We fit because of the way we are willing to make an effort to understand each other. We communicate with each other if there is an issue and try to make sure the other person is happy. Without clear communication how would we know if there is an issue? How could we fix it? Relationships should not be about testing each other’s knowledge of the other person but communicating and talking about issues. You should be happy with that person; not waiting for them to do something wrong. Live in the moment with them and appreciate them for who they are. Why else are you working hard to be in that relationship? Relationships will and always come down to good and honest communication. 

Body image is a topic that is very important to me. I define body image as how one views one’s physical appearance. The way a person views their body image does have an effect on their self-esteem. I was raised by my mother and the only family I knew outside of my mother and sister was my skinny light skin maternal extended family. I resemble my father’s family more because I have a dark complexion and curvy body type. I remember being in the 3^rd grade not feeling good about myself because a family member made a hurtful joke about my complexion and weight. After that incident I recall being teased often by peers about my dark complexion and weight. I also remember my little cousin, who was only 7 years-old, called me “fat girl” when I was in 8^th grade. I am 20 years-old now and neither my peers nor my family make comments on my weight or my complexion anymore. I got my family to stop teasing me by telling my mother the comments my family were making made me cry and hate myself. When I told my mother that she talked to her family and they never made jokes about my complexion or body again. Reflecting on my past makes me wonder how young children today are dealing with issues surrounding body image.

According to Crammer and Steinwert’s study in 1998 children as young as 3 years-old demonstrate negative attitudes towards the idea of being overweight. It amazes me that at the age of 3 children understand what it means to be overweight and are concerned about being labeled  overweight. There has been an increase amount of young children who suffer with disordered eating. Disordered eating is irregular eating habits that can be caused by stress or depression. I recently watched a documentary on an 8 year-old named Dana who was diagnosed with Anorexia. She was placed in a 12 week intensive program after being hospitalized for nearly starving herself to death. It hurt my heart to hear her say she did not want to stop exercising because she did not want to be fat when her doctor said she is under the healthy body weight for her size. Where are these children getting the idea that only one body type is okay to have?

The media is constantly bombarding females that skinny is the way to be. These images are on billboards, magazines and everywhere you look. It is no surprise that young females are unsatisfied with their body image because they are constantly being shown that skinny is true beauty. Beauty is based off perception and I am tired of the media showing that skinny is the only body type that is beautiful. Barbie will have no place in my child’s childhood. She is a ridiculous representation of the female body. I want to see dolls that represent every body type there is in the world, but I know that is unrealistic.

I believe programs about accepting different body types should be implemented from elementary through high school to teach children it is okay not to look like the model in the magazine. Children as young as kindergarten should be taught on how to accept their body image and the body image of those around them. It is not only the school’s responsibility to teach children but it is also the responsibility of the parents to teach their children to love themselves for who they are. One’s core foundation of self begins at home. If a child is constantly told she is beautiful then that will be her foundation on how she sees herself. When a child gets positive attention and love at home then images in the media and negative things other children may say will not as strong effect on the child’s self-esteem. If parents and schools take a bigger role in educating their children on having positive body images then there will be a huge improvement in self-esteem in young children and a decrease of bullying or teasing related to body images.

When you think of a healthy relationship, what are certain characteristics that come to mind? When I think of a healthy relationship, I think of two individuals who are totally invested in each other. I think about the constant, cheesy smile that you get every single time you see your significant other as he/she smiles back at you. I think about the constant affection that is given in a healthy relationship; hand holding, caressing, long hugs that last for more than a minute, kisses that never get old because you continue to have the same feeling as when you first touched lips, cuddling in bed until you are so comfortable that you sleep in each other’s arms, and passionate sex that just feels amazing every single time. I also think about how you are each other’s support system as you listen, understand, and do whatever it takes to see the other happy. Loyalty, trust, fidelity, respect, constant fun and attraction, humor, and love are all things I think about in a healthy relationship. However, in order for all these characteristics to exist and continue, communication has to be a main factor in the relationship.

When in a relationship, you have to be able to talk to your partner about anything, and possibly everything, that is on your mind. You have to open up to each other about your innermost intimate feelings in order to feel that closeness, support, and love. In today’s society, many people tend to lack in communication in their own relationships. Why might this be? Some say that communication in their relationship suffers because they both have trust issues and are guarded from their partner, unsatisfied with the relationship, or have doubt in their partner. However, how can you get passed these feelings of doubt if you do not address them? This is a major problem in relationships today. No one is really willing to take the initiative and communicate about one’s problems. Many would rather keep hush-hush, and allow their problems to eat them alive until it affects the relationship in a negative way. In a healthy relationship, a couple is able to argue and have disagreements, but can communicate about these things, compromise, and move on. Nowadays, any little disagreement or argument can lead to a break up. Did you really care about your partner if you are willing to give up so easily due to a simple argument? If you care, then you will fight for your relationship. Thus, you must communicate with your partner and sort out all problems and doubts in order to live a happy life together.

The feeling that you get when you are able to confide in your partner about anything, he/she supports you, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make the relationship work, is an amazing feeling. If you can communicate with your partner openly then your relationship has the potential to last for a long time. With communication comes complete trust, which is also a major factor to a healthy relationship. No trust leads to a miserable relationship. And as there is no trust then everything else will suffer and eventually the relationship will end. If a couple’s able to communicate and fight for the relationship then they will be able to live a long and healthy life together. If there are still problems after much communication then it is not meant to be and you both must move on to better things. Otherwise, if you are not able to open up, put the walls down, trust, listen and understand, be affectionate, and speak up and communicate effectively, then you will lose the relationship and an opportunity to be happy. Thus, if you don’t speak up you will lose the one person that may actually be your soul mate.
  Communication is the key to a long lasting, happy, and wonderful relationship. Moreover, simply talking to each other will increase intimacy, bring you closer in mind, body, and soul, keep the relationship strong, and you will be able to get through anything. Love is something that the human species crave for in order to survive. When you have love, don’t give up on it, fight for it, and never let it go. Communication will only make that love stronger and worthwhile. 

In my Introduction to Social Research class, it was said that Rutgers University was once considered to be one of the schools in the United States with the highest cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) back in 2010.  After some research, I learned that the report was a myth.  Startling news had it been true.  Nevertheless, focusing on HIV & AIDS and particularly with college students, I am a strong believer in being well informed and up-to-date with the latest information.  HIV/AIDS should not be a taboo topic and the common myths, uncertainties, questions, and stigmas that are associated with it upset me.

            To all my peers, let me reassure you that if you feel going to a HIV testing site is a scary process, believe me when I say that you are not the only oneI have positively encouraged many friends to get tested that might not  have gone without encouragement.  Here is a tip! Find a friend to tag along, or ask for me, Demetrius, when you attend a HIV Testing Day in the near future. “Why should you go?” My response to that question would be for your own assurance of “knowing your status”.              HIV/AIDS does not discriminate against college students. As a whole, we are all susceptible to contracting it and should take preventative actions to combating it. I worship the ABC approach, which means Abstinence from Sex, Being faithful, and Use of Condoms.

            It is interesting for me to hear that a number of my peers are uncomfortable asking their partners about their sexual history, yet they are comfortable enough to have sex with them. I have talked to friends and associates alike who do not desire to delve into critical questions such as how many partners have you had sex (unprotected and/or protected) within a certain time frame or in general, last HIV/STD test, drug use, and a plethora of other relevant questions.  Hello, asking  your partner some of these questions offers you an idea of what you are getting into. 

            As a Sexual Health Advocate in Training, there are a number of potential advocacy initiatives I look forward to doing. One of them is getting the word out to get tested and talking with  your partner. Doing this routinely shows how you care for your well-being just as much as your partner’s best interest.              One action step I have already implemented is becoming a Sexual Health Advocate. But there is more. I will also be a HIV Counselor soon so I can continue this initiative and look forward to meeting you one day.

After finishing her night shift at work, Kitty Genovese was murdered in a series of attacks  by one man.  Winston Mosely followed her as she began home, stabbing her and leaving her trembling and running in pain.  Mosely retreated to his car as he watched her stumble to her apartment door where he met her again, stabbed her once more and raped her.  Without wasting time Mosely fled, leaving Kitty to bleed.  Finally, a neighbor named Greta Schwartz called the police much too late, as she sat with Kitty, who was already dead.  Thirty-seven other people had seen or heard parts of the murder sequence, but Schwartz was the only person to eventually make an initiative to help (The Confluence, 3/2012.  Although you may think such a situation is highly improbably today, that no one would allow for such a gruesome attack without intervention—you should think again.  Maybe Kitty Genovese’s story is not relatable to you: she was living in an unsafe area of Queens, New York in the sixties. However, think about the situations you have been  in and the events that have occurred around you.  How many times have you seen a single child get bullied while you were younger, in a playground full of other children? How many times did even one child step out and try to suppress this attack? This bullied child may or may not have been you, but whoever it was, must have been emotionally pained for at least a few days after the encounter.  Anothers situation may involve witnessing a man beating his wife.  Someone else may see another individual discriminate against someone because of his or her race.  In places and situations varied across a wide spectrum, many people are becoming victims to assault.

Crime and sexual assault may well continue because of their endless, impenetrable cycles.  After people whom are guilty are caught, there is usually a case, a conviction, and some commentary about whoever it is. Weeks later, there is another case.    This cycle can be broken, if those not harmed decide to step in.  It may seem out of your place to say “Hey, stop hitting your wife” or “I don’t think you should rape that girl”—-but you do not have to necessarily do that.  If you cannot directly stop the criminal, then you can call for help because the victim cannot. When you and the people immediately around you notice that something isn’t right, you have the ability to work together to stop an assault, bullying, or discrimination.  You have the ability to call the police,  your school counselor, or whoever has the influence to give as much appropriate help as possible in the given circumstance.

It’s time for us to combat assault, whether it is mental, purely physical, or sexual.  We can do what the victim cannot do, by trying to do anything in our reach to ensure his or her safety.  A simple phone call to the police earlier in Kitty’s experience from one of the 37 witnesses could have saved her life.  Imprisoning Mosely served justice, but it would have been much better if Kitty had not died.. We can stop certain crimes, and stop people from facing confrontations of which they most certainly do not deserve, by intervening.  Think about how you would stop a crime if you witnessed one, and learn about violence prevention. You can make a difference.