Date Rape and College Campuses

      On this first day (with students) of a new school year, NPR ran a piece on date rape.  In a further step to curb the crises, app developers have several new tools out for smart phones.  One mentioned on the program was "Circle of Six".  I think this is a great idea, and I highly promote it.  I am curious, though, to take it to the next level.  The idea behind the app is that you preprogram six friends numbers into the phone, with a message of "I need help with a bad date", and in a bad situation, you hit one key, and the message goes out.  That is great, and I don't want to deride from the potential power to help this will be.  I am curious about the psychological effects of the six if they miss the text.  Again, this is not to say the product should be redesigned or taken off the shelf.  Simply asking questions.  What if you miss the text, out on the town, unable to effectively think straight.  What if you have your phone turned off?  What if?  I guess that is why it is six people, in the hope that one will be around.  What if the attacker is in the circle of six, as most date rapes are associates/friends?

      The app is being tested on a college campus for two years.  That has got to be tough for the school to allow the program to come in, as it requires that the school admit that date rape exists.  We all know, logically, that date rape happens at major institutions, including colleges, high schools, and the military, as well as in every day life.  Saying that publicly does not mean that a school is willing to do the same.  No school publishes their level of attacks.  There is an incentive to get the numbers down, but you still don't want to brag.  The organization in no way allows or encourages the action, but they still take all responsibility, and are expected to work to curb the actions.  But to do it discreetly.  That is what intrigues me about a school choosing to pilot the program.  Colleges (school) are very risk averse.  On the surface, every parent agrees that they want their child's school to do more to protect the students.  But, to openly admit you have a problem is to put an active bug in the mind of every parent that there is a need in the first place.  Mental illness is a major issue in the world, and everyone is willing to reach out to others to share phone numbers and encouragement, but ultimately, how many of us are willing to take the long journey for treatment and support that our friends require when they do admit to it?  The stigma attached to these issues is so large, it is a surprise that anyone is willing to take on the task. Great work, William Woods.  

       Another app just out (I don't remember the name), allows a victim to catalogue the incident, then do three things:  Report immediately, save the details for later (time to process, understand, cope), or to put the perpetrator on the radar, and report if another issue arises with the same person.  Interesting.  Power is shifting.  And I am glad.