MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It`s become the talked about topic in the race for President. Remarks about sexual advances on women and even allegations of all out rape are now center stage.
“So you can say it any way you want to say it, but Bill Clinton was abusive to women. Hillary Clinton attacked those same women,” said Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump during Sunday night’s Presidential Debate.
“But everyone can draw their own conclusions, at this point, about whether or not the man in the video or the man on the stage respects women,” said Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton.
Sexual Assault is an issue a group of students at Rhodes College has been pushing into the spotlight for the last four years.
“It’s not often discussed and people don’t want to discuss it,” said Olivia Gacka, who is with Rhodes College’s Culture of Consent organization. The group works to raise awareness about sexual assault and get students to acknowledge it.
“It’s really important because college students do end up leaving college and becoming the citizens who effect change on the federal level,” said Gacka.
Having it front and center in the campaign for the country`s highest office shines even more light on the topic.
“If we expect our presidential candidates to take this issue seriously and act in a way we want our students to act, that’s the best way to get our students and our children to understand how they should behave,” said Gacka.
It’s an issue young voters say won’t be forgotten at the ballot box.
“Sexual assault is very prominent today. It happens often and often goes unnoticed.I think it will have a role and an impact on how I vote,” said Kerry Love, a Rhodes College Freshman.
“We are talking about half the population here. This is not something that you can just brush off,” said Sara-Kate Capel, who is also a Rhodes College Freshman.
Victim advocates told us one issue that has surfaced in the presidential race involving so labeled “locker room talk” among men is the very thing they are trying to point out can often lead to sex crimes against women.
