As I was walking across campus last week, I happened to overhear a fragment of conversation between two male students who were walking past me in the opposite direction. As they passed me, I heard one say to the other, "We have to get her drunk." I found the comment to be troublesome, because it seemed to me to indicate an intention by these two young men to get a woman drunk in order to take advantage of her sexually.

Given the incidence of acquaintance rape on this campus and on university campuses nationwide, this seemed to be a reasonable interpretation of the comment. Just to be sure, however, I later asked students in one of my classes what they would make of the overheard remark. The instant and unanimous answer was, "They want to get her drunk so they can have sex with her."

I find myself wanting to shout out a warning to all women students on this campus: Be careful! Today, out there in the world you live in, there are men planning to liquor you up and then have sex with you. Not knowing just who the female student is whom they had in mind, it seems to me that the warning is appropriate for all of you. To those two young men -- and to all others who harbor the same thoughts -- I can only say that your predatory attitude renders you unfit to dwell in a civilized society.

The real question is, why do you despise women so profoundly?