Signing on the dotted line could be prerequisite for sex

College students may soon find themselves signing on the dotted line before having sex if the National Center For Men has its way. The center is proposing to introduce a "Consensual Sex Contract" on college campuses nationwide which would affirm that both partners consent to sex and will not press charges for rape or sexual assault. The NCM has already introduced the sex contract in the New York area and plans to reach colleges all over the Eastern seaboard by next fall. "The contract is intended to protect a man from the most pressing danger he faces from heterosexual activity in the '90s -- a 20-year prison sentence," said Mel Feit, NCM executive director. He added that the New York District Attorney said that half of the rape accusations made by women are false, and on college campuses that percentage is even higher, especially in cases of acquaintance and date rape. "Women see an epidemic of rape, we see an epidemic of women lying about rape," Feit said. Former Victim Support and Special Services Director Ruth Wells said she disagrees with Feit's allegation that many rape claims are unsubstantiated. "That has not been my experience," she said last night. "In the 16 years that I have worked at Penn, I've handled a number of acquaintance rape complaints and all were founded." Currently, the contract has no legal standing because it has never been introduced in court, but Feit said it would be valid in cases of acquaintance rape where it was one person's word against another's. He added that the contract was designed to educate people about the seriousness of rape and false accusations. "The maximum punishment ever levied for a false accusation of rape is $200 and community service," he said. "This is grossly unfair." Feit believes that in the long run the contract will actually help women who are rape victims. He said that due to the high number of false accusations, police and university officials do not always believe women who are raped. "If we can eliminate the false claims, women who were truly raped will be believed," he said. Engineering sophomore Paul Hebhardt said he was "kind of against [the contract]." "I think even if you're going out with somebody or have signed this contract, you can still rape them," he said. "The contract might make you less conscious of your partner's sexual wants and needs." Penn Women's Alliance Executive Board member Debra Pickett, a College sophomore, is also skeptical about the contract. "It seems like it could work for some couples, but I don't think it's the solution for acquaintance rape across the country," she said. "The reason [women] are given a hard time is not only that there are a lot of false claims, but because there is structural sexism." NCM members, however, contend that the structural sexism favors women and not men. According to Feit, the NCM was formed in 1987 to "seriously address all legitimate men's concerns including female sexual power, sexist dress codes, the military draft and the lack of men's reproductive rights." Feit said that the NCM believes that men are oppressed by "biased laws and practices that are not only unfair, but directly contribute to the disrespectful and resentful male-female relationships in our society today." Several students said they were doubtful about the NCM and its goals. "I'm speaking from a woman's point of view, but I don't really see a need for it," said College sophomore Jill Family. Pickett added that although feminists seek equality for the sexes and are thus concerned with many issues affecting men, she does not feel that men are disadvantaged. "I think it is important for us to discuss these issues, but women have been prisoners of biology for a long time," she said.