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Show Westminster College, a concept of higher learning that should serve as a bastion of reason and progress in the local area. To grasp any form of another persons clothing or body without consent is a clear violation of ethical precepts in both the natural rights tradition and the Kantian second categorical imperative, not to mention an obvious legal error. The former of these frameworks easily condemns the actions of those that would violate the right of a person to have control over herhis body. Whether sober or drunk, the groping of another person who does not wish to be physically assaulted is a moral failing. Further, the Kantian precept against using another person exclusively as a means to an end is also violated. Although Kant willingly extended this principle to acts of consensual sex, one need not do that in this case. One may still uphold that person A engaging in consensual sexual activity with person B has not used that person B any more than if persons A and B played basketball together, while still condemning the type of behavior that occurs on dance floors across the country and at Westminster Colleges Halloween Dance. The act of nonconsensual groping causes the actor to use the receiver as a means solely for their sexualanimal gratification while failing to remotely recognize the humanity of the receiver. Perhaps a defendant in this situation will choose to use one of two defenses: in merely attending the dance the individual consented to this form of behavior and individuals that are provocatively dressed surely must have been asking, for it. The first of these arguments acts primarily from the premises: (1) All Westminster College dances involve indiscriminate groping of people. (2) All those that go to Westminster College dances are fully aware and acknowledge the first premise. The second of these premises is greatly flawed, as it very reasonable for an individual to expect to be able to go to a school function without fear of harassment or unwanted physical contact. If it is indeed unreasonable for a person to be free from fear of harassment or unwanted physical contact at a school of higher learning, there are larger problems to address. The first premise may be true; however, its veracity speaks very poorly of the schools demographic that the students and attendees of the dances act upon the assumption that all people are fair game for groping. Considering a quick search of polyamorous organizations, reveals that even at their official functions, clear consent must be given by each individual prior to any activity. So if the first premise is true, Westminster dances have weaker rules for consent than an orgy. The second argument that individuals dressed either provocatively or scantily must be asking for it is even weaker. Suppose a Western dressed female entered a country with predominantly Sharia followers, must she certainly be seeking sexual gratification provided she does not don a full head and limb covering? Using such subjective criteria for the establishment of morality or legal code would eliminate the ability of an individual to exercise their constitutional right to free speech to their fullest extent in choosing their own clothing. Certainly, one only need examine the infamous Puerto Rican day parade (for more information go to Wikipedia) to demonstrate that some individuals, especially when intoxicated, fail to respect the rights of others and the perception of enticement is entirely one sided. This second argument not only fails to withstand the test of logic, but it commits the error of blaming the victim when the only one at fault is the perpetrator. Individuals should be guaranteed the ability to walk around in nothing but their underwear while reasonably suspecting that the justice system will protect their right to be free from bodily harm. At this point, at the possible risk of introducing a red herring, it seems a few data points are in order to more clearly express the gravity of this lack of respect for individuals bodies. A study conducted revealed that one out of four women in college have experienced rape or attempted rape (Foubert et. al, 2002). Further, research indicates that three out of four sexually assaulted women knew the perpetrator (Romeo, 2005). To this data must also be added that a survey of 610 undergraduate females 39.3 responded that they had engaged in token resistance to a sexual advance at least once (Crooks, 2008; Muehlenhard and Hollabaugh, 1989). Although an initial reading of the data and the experiences of students at the Westminster College Halloween Dance, presumably invokes a sense of rage to those not yet jaded, it would seem that a sense of prophetic realism and empathy toward both the victims and perpetrators of sexual assault may be in order. Although obviously the wealth of the empathy should be directed toward those who are the receivers of such inappropriate action, the study revealing that over 30 of the females surveyed engaged in token resistance demonstrates that the same socialization acting on acts upon women as well. their The current patriarchal system advocates that females must at least initially reject sexual advances to remain would-be-attacke- rs |