U.S. military academies can teach colleges and universities a thing or two about how to educate students on sexual assault prevention.
U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen and U.S. Military Academy and Air Force Academy cadets are trained in sexual assault prevention for four years. They are taught about "'bystander intervention,' mutual consent for sexual contact and tricky scenarios involving alcohol, among other topics."
Various schools across the nation provide sexual assault programs for their students. However, these programs are directed mostly toward freshmen, which Danice Labertew, a sexual assault advocate and member of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, says is not enough. "The best-case scenario is that all these types of programs are implemented to all students, at all levels, throughout their college education," she said.
As part of its training program, the U.S. Naval Academy has midshipmen "discuss gender socialization and stereotypes" to explain the role gendered language plays in cases of sexual assault. "If we're here to better people's lives, what's the point of using language that is actually putting people down?" Zack Kerscher, a midshipmen, said of the discussions.
Read the full article at The Washington Post.
