The Student News Site of Sonoma State University

Sonoma State Star

The Student News Site of Sonoma State University

Sonoma State Star

The Student News Site of Sonoma State University

Sonoma State Star

‘Locker room talk’ is no excuse for sexual assault

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Columnist Lindsey Huffman

Columnist Lindsey Huffman

In the 21 years of my life and the first time voting as an American citizen in, here is one of the most absurd, outrageous and craziest campaigns I’ve been able to vote for.

There have been many concerning stories and issues that have occurred due to Trump’s actions and words, but the most shocking was a video released in 2005 of when the potential next President of the United States was bragging about being so famous that he can get away with sexual assault.

On Monday, CNN came out with videos and an article regarding the issue and with a video from the last debate between himself and Hillary Clinton when asked about the issue he said, “I don’t think you understood what was said, this was locker room talk,”  said Trump during the second Presidential debate.

In the clip he states, “I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and have sex with her, but she was married.” Then goes on about how is attracted to beautiful women and immediately starts kissing them. “I just kiss, I don’t even wait. And when you are a star they let you do it. You can do anything.”

But yet his campaign defended his words and actions by saying “this is locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago.” Private conversation or not, his actions and words are unjust, and he isn’t someone who is fit for running our country if he is so willing to say and do things like this. Meanwhile he uses his status and fame to be an excuse for his words and actions.

According to the RAINN Sexual Assault Organization, “Every 109 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted… Meanwhile, only 6 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison.” Sexual assault is a huge issue we have going on, not only in our country but across the globe and it needs to end. To have a potential President to speak lightly of this issue, and justifying it by stating it’s okay to do such acts because he’s famous and rich is quite disturbing.

For him to also say it is “locker room talk” is disrespectful to those athletes and professionals who don’t speak about women in that manner. Dominique Wilkins, who is a former basketball player at Naismith Memorial, spoke out about Trump’s locker room talk banter and stated, “We have a locker room code, we have a locker room system, we have a locker room respect, that is all what is it about.”

Locker rooms have nothing to do with sexual assault, so for Donald Trump to downplay his words and actions is utterly disgusting. Dahntay Jones, from the Cleveland Cavaliers, says, “It was unfair to categorize what is said and goes on in a locker room.

For myself and many other women this topic hits home. Sexual violence is something we as individuals should all take seriously. Women should not feel pressured or uncomfortable to vote for a man who sees sexual assault as not a big deal. People who justify and defend his actions and words are living in a bubble. Is this appropriate behavior of someone we want to represent our country? I think not.

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