Gaining Momentum: How the Media Helps Students Raise Awareness by Saint Louis University blogger Abigail

Just last month, a chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity was removed from Texas Tech University for displaying a sheet sign that read “No Means Yes, Yes Means Anal” outside their house. While this sign is obviously a disgusting example of the reality of rape culture on college campuses, the quick removal of the chapter by the university (the event occurred September 19, 2014 and the charter was revoked the first week of October), as well as the response of students hanging contrasting sheet signs around campus that said “No means No” shows that the university community was able to respond quickly to media coverage of this fraternity’s indiscretion, and raise awareness about sexual assault on their campus with a clearly necessary reminder.

In New York, students are carrying the weight of sexual assault until change happens in the way the University handles sexual assault. The media has allowed the students to reach a huge network of people all over the country, and therefore gain support for their cause.

However, the media tends, more frequently, to spread the idea that sexual assault is ok – victim shaming is everywhere on the internet, from a comment on the aforementioned Phi Delta Theta article which reads “drunk women are the downfall of fraternities” to a Time article that explains that Columbia’s protestors are being charged $1500 to clean up after the protests.

Media allows both positive and negative commentary to be spread, allows people to get attention for many things, and can cause any movement to gain or lose momentum. If used correctly, the media can be a hugely positive outlet for students trying to raise awareness on their campuses.