Derek Carpenter's letter to the editor highlighted many of the misconceptions surrounding the recent sexual assaults. Carpenter states, "If those simple safety steps had been followed, perhaps these terrible assaults would not have occurred and a young man would still be with us today, receiving the help he apparently needed so desperately."

I believe it is very important for the women involved and everyone as a community to realize these women are not to blame.

It is ridiculous to rationalize an unlocked door as an invitation for assault and equally obscene to deflect blame for the suicide. In this way, talk of locking doors and preventing piggybacking is being used to avoid the actual problem.

Irrespective of the amount of alcohol one consumes, sexual assault is wrong. Whether or not doors are locked, or closed or open, sexual assault is wrong.

Regardless of the clothing one wears, mini-skirt or sweatpants, it is not an invitation for assault. Perhaps the time has come to realize rape and sexual assault are not inevitable. We need not prepare ourselves as we would for natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes.

And, while locking doors may be a temporary remedy, in the end we must unlearn the behavior of sexual assault and attain a society of consent and respect.