Approximately every seven minutes there is a rape occuring somewhere in America. The legal definition of rape is a victim having sexual intercourse against her will and without her consent.

In some states only a woman can be legally raped by a man. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in a 1980 study that 10 percent of all sexual assault victims are men.

It is important to note that the victim does not have to be threatened with a dangerous weapon to be injured for an incident to be considered rape. Coercion or threat of force or violence are sufficient.

Acquaintance rape is a serious problem on college campuses today, especially among some of the elite institutions. Far too many male students think they are doing the female student a favor by pushing her sexually.

If you couple this with the tremendous amount of peer pressure for male students to have sex on a date, this only serves to enhance the possibility of a sexual assault.

Self discipline/control on a date obviously has gone the way of the dinosaur on far too many college and university campuses. At NIU, students are subject to expulsions and suspensions for such serious and unlawful acts of behavior. Criminal prosecution is always strongly encouraged in these matters.

Over the past years I have observed the following patterns in regard to acquaintance rape. Freshman women are generally targeted during the beginning of fall semester. A party with an abundance of alcohol accompanied by tremendous peer presure to drink and dance is the second stage.

The old “how about stepping into my room so we that we can talk without the loud music” or “I have something to show you in my room” sets up the victim.

The invitor always wants the invitee to sit on the bed or the floor, never in a chair. A comment about getting comfortable tends to follow, “take off your shoes, take a load off” or “you don’t look well, lie down and relax.”

Shortly afterwards the male’s hands begin working like a giant octopus in a Charmin factory.

If this happens to you, you should immediately report the incident to the local police, the University Police, the University Judicial Office, or the Affirmative Action Office.

Never blame yourself. There is a tremendous support system out there to help you through this ordeal, especially at NIU.

The criminal court system of the University Judicial system in this community are firmly committed to stamping out such behavior through the stiffest of sanctions and penalties.

Also, some comments from my mother, who raised seven daughters, may be of some help. Mr. Right is generally not trying to woo you with drugs and alcohol. He leads only when dancing, and sometimes not then, he impresses you with self-discipline, good manners, and good behavior.

When I think of college and university parties full of enthusiastic and energetic male and female students dancing to heavy metal or rap music, I can’t help but remember an old sign that was once posted at the door of the number one party house on campus. It gave the following warning:

“If you can’t hang, You shouldn’t have came Cause, if you get caught It ain’t our fault.”

Far too often this narrow minded mentality guides the morals and ethics of young males in the dating/mating game.

We all must work together to overcome this anti-social and unlawful behavior on our college campuses throughout the United States.

We must work to develop students of sound morals and ethical values that carry over to their actual behavior. This is one war the American society cannot continue to lose.

Larry Bolles is the director of the NIU University Judicial Office and is writing on sexual assault.