Saturday, November 14, 2015

Joe Biden: Combatting Sexual Assault

I held my Orange pride really high today after listening to one of the most important men in the country give a speech. Joe Biden, the Vice President of the United States, came to SU to talk a about Violence and Sexual Assaults on College Campuses. Biden is incredibly passionate about this topic not because someone in his family has been a victim but for the fact that his father was such an honorable man. He explained how his father taught him to respect women and never to raise a hand towards them. The tone of voice he used varied in perfect synchrony and all of the students standing right in front of him were completely engaged with every word he spoke. 1 in 5 women is likely to be a victim of sexual assault before they finish college. This is something our community can change if we consciously make a cultural change in the decisions we make. "Look at these women as your mother, as your sister, your teammate, step in and expose them, save them!"

Joe Biden graduated from Syracuse University in the year 1968 and he couldn't have been happier coming back "home". He was received with an auditorium full of students, in which some had been victims of sexual assault, many professors and our big pride, the marching band.  Seeing him stand up for this problem was encouraging, because I felt the pain these women and men have suffered and have been through. It’s a topic people are afraid to speak about because one can be judged or mistreated. Biden’s Campaign “It’s On Us” is creating awareness among college students and a safe place where victims can be heard and their voice can be heard. Never blame yourself because it is NEVER your fault. Be courageous, be bold, and be brave because you have an amazing community supporting you. Biden’s speech was flawless and incredibly motivating. I hope his message spreads throughout the United States to successfully decrease these terrible percentages of violence against women and men.

#ItsOnUs

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