After reading several letters about the recent assaults in Snyder Hall, I have a few criticisms of the way in which some of my fellow female students have chosen to address this issue. First of all, I am a firm believer in personal responsibility for one's own protection and ultimately, one's own existence. It is obvious, I am sure, to these victims that had they simply locked their doors that night, then they would not presently be victims. I am not the first to say this. I have a problem with the statement made that "Education about sexual assault must shift from constraining women's behavior to putting the emphasis on teaching men not to rape." My dear, I hope you were joking, though I know that you were not. This is preposterous. How exactly do you propose to "teach men not to rape"? I think that men are well aware of the laws, let alone morals, of this country. Yet, rape is still a fact of life.

Suppose we did "educate" men as suggested. Would we be prepared to trust that this education was sufficient and subsequently throw caution to the wind? I, personally, would not. I have no desire to give up the responsibility of my own protection and place it in the hands of another, let alone trust my fellow man will not do me harm.

Where does this brand of asceticism come from and why do we feel we are doing women any good by professing it?

Confront the truth for once. We live in a world where some people may do us harm and we must protect ourselves. This is the best hope for preventing you from being the next victim we read about. It will certainly get you further than any rally (herd instinct) ever could.

In the words of Descartes, "Conquer thineself, not the world." This is the best any of us can hope for.