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Ask Amy: A victim, yes, but was it a rape?

Dear Amy: I recently attended a frat party, got drunk and made some bad decisions. I let a guy take me to "his" room because he promised that he wouldn't do anything I wasn't comfortable with.

Many times, I clearly said I didn't want to have sex, and he promised to my face that he wouldn't. Then he quickly proceeded to go against what he "promised." I was shocked, and maybe being intoxicated made my reaction time a bit slow in realizing what was happening.

We were soon kicked out of the room by the guy who lived there.

If I wasn't kicking and fighting him off, is it still rape? I feel like calling it that is a bit extreme, but I haven't felt the same since.

- Victim? in Virginia

Dear Victim?: I hope your letter will be posted on college bulletin boards everywhere.

Were you a victim? Yes.

First, you were a victim of your own awful judgment. Getting drunk at a frat house is a hazardous choice for anyone to make because of the risk (some might say likelihood) that you will engage in unwise or unwanted sexual contact.

You don't say whether the guy was also drunk. If so, his judgment was also impaired.

No matter what - no means no. If you say no beforehand, then the sex shouldn't happen. If you say no while it's happening, then the sex should stop.

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org) says: "Alcohol and drugs are not an excuse - or an alibi. The key question is still: Did you consent or not? Regardless of whether you were drunk or sober, if the sex is nonconsensual, it is rape."

Go to your college's health department to be tested for STDs and pregnancy. See a counselor to determine how you want to approach this.


Send questions via e-mail to askamy@tribune.com.
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