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Campus posters against ‘victim blaming’ taken down — for using satire to make point

‘Use the buddy system! If you can’t stop yourself from raping people, ask a friend to accompany you at all times to stop you from raping people …’

Campus anti-rape posters that employed satirical humor to drive home a message against victim blaming were taken down recently due to concerns they were inappropriate.

The flyers, hung at a campus in Denver shared by CU Denver, Community College of Denver and Metropolitan State University of Denver, were removed despite being “consistent with a popular feminist narrative on how to prevent rape,” Media Research Center reports.

Emily Williams, a CU Denver spokeswoman, said in an email to The College Fix that “while no formal complaints were made, enough concerns were voiced about the satirical nature of the flyer given the topic that the university decided to take it out of circulation and instead focus on the many other vehicles we have to communicate about victim-blaming.”

These are the “helpful ways to prevent rape,” according to the poster, a copy of which was obtained by MRC:

Don’t put drugs in someone’s drink.

When you see someone walking by, leave them alone.

If you try to help someone, do not rape them.

If you are in an enclosed space with someone, do not rape them.

If you encounter someone who is asleep or intoxicated, do not rape them.

Use the buddy system! If you can’t stop yourself from raping people, ask a friend to accompany you at all times to stop you from raping people.

Carry a rape whistle. If you are about to rape someone, blow the whistle until someone comes to stop you.

Not raping people is the only way to stop rape from happening. It is never a victim’s fault.

They were hung by The Phoenix Center, which promotes awareness and dialogue of interpersonal violence on the Denver campus.

MORE: Students told campus forbids ‘mocking’

Williams told The Fix other educational “vehicles” will be used in the future.

“Those other vehicles include training on consent and bystander intervention to every new student during New Student Orientation, additional online training (including lengthy sections on sexual assault, consent, bystander intervention), and resources available to all students at no cost. Training is also available to all faculty and staff on the importance of supporting survivors and how to recognize signs of trauma,” she said.

MORE: UNL students restricted by new ‘respect’ policy

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About the Author
Michael McGrady --University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.