Men With Integrity declared Wednesday the day of its “24 hour truce” against rape and sexual assault. Unfortunately, instead of sponsoring an event that actually teaches respect for women and the idea that rape and sexual assault are things that should never happen, this event, by name, sends the message that rape and sexual assault are only wrong and only off limits for 24 hours. So it’s fine to rape me any other day of the year, based upon this message.

Now I’m sure Men With Integrity meant well with this event. It probably doesn’t advocate that rape and sexual assault are acceptable the other 364 days of the year. But that is the message implied through its poor choice of wording. The name of the organization itself is also a poor choice of wording. Men With Integrity implies that integrity is an item; it’s a thing that can be possessed or can be ignored. Men Of Integrity, however, would imply that the members of such a group adhere to high moral principles.

A 24-hour truce also implies that these men have been raping and sexually assaulting others and have decided to take a break. It’s a temporary cease-fire. Why only advocate a 24-hour truce? Instead why not advocate that rape and sexual assault are always wrong and teach other men not to rape or sexually assault others. A day-long truce isn’t going to change anything and neither is a giant wall in the middle of campus for a week where people sign their names for… well, I’m not sure what the point of signing the wall was. Was there a point? Signing a wall certainly won’t stop anyone from raping or sexually assaulting another, nor will it prevent someone from being raped or sexually assaulted.

Have you ever noticed that women are usually the focus of programs to prevent sexual assault and rape? I always see posters and articles advising girls and women to utilize the buddy system and to watch their drinks and to be aware of their surroundings. I have never once seen a poster saying “Guys, don’t rape or sexually assault others. It’s wrong.” The burden of preventing rape and sexual assault in our society is placed upon the would-be victims.

This group could do real events to make campus a safer place and to teach respect of women. It could offer to escort female students back to their dorms or cars after a night class or to and from the library, cafeteria or gym at night. It could have programs teaching the importance of respecting others and not committing rape or sexual assault. But instead it spends its time creating walls and 24-hour truces, which only sends the wrong message out to campus. I would like very much to see a real event on campus talking about these problems facing women on campus and in society, but Men With Integrity does not seem like the group that’s going to provide that event.

Katy Rowe is a senior English major. She may be reached at [email protected].