Over the past two weeks, there have been multiple accounts of the drug ketamine being slipped into unsuspecting women’s drinks on campus and at the off-campus bars in town. As yet, the perpetrator has not been found. In light of an insufficient response from the administration, we must come together as a campus community. Dismissing victims of date-rape drugs is not the answer; standing up for them is.
Ketamine, along with a number of other date-rape drugs, causes the user to experience hallucinations, amnesia, dissociation, temporary paralysis, and unconsciousness. These symptoms intensify and present even more danger to the user when combined with alcohol. This can result in seizures, vomiting, choking, or — in ketamine’s case specifically — respiratory depression. Rationalization and communication also become severely limited, often leaving the user susceptible to being taken advantage of. While it is possible to suffer extreme consequences when partaking in binge drinking, unknowingly mixing a drug like ketamine with these behaviors is a life-threatening risk. In all of these women’s experiences, not only were they susceptible to rape, kidnapping, extreme dehydration, liver or kidney failure, but they also could have died.
Given the potential that these acts were perpetrated by one or more members of the Hamilton community, it is important to consider the twisted mindset from which such acts emerge. The disgusting, wicked, and perverted actions of the perpetrator expose the complete cowardice that lies within those who prey on others. This cowardice is inexcusable. Quite frankly, the idea that anyone would rely on a date-rape drug to take someone home is not simply despicably predatorial, but pathetically deranged. How privileged could someone be to think that they have the right to assert this power over women? How delusional? Think about it. How could this feel like a morally justifiable thing to do? Let the campus response confirm this: it’s not.
Meanwhile, if the perpetrator was a student, it is possible individuals here on campus have information about what happened to these women. To those hypothetical students: you have a responsibility and obligation to take action. It takes less than a minute to research the effects of mixing a drug like ketamine with binge-drinking. If you have any idea about who may have done this, I implore you to consider the consequences of these druggings continuing. Standing up to your friends requires a lot of strength, as does doing the right thing. But when there are people suffering, and even at risk of dying, the time has come to muster up the courage to make a change.
In a feeble attempt to initially address the situation, Dean Martinez suggested a list of preventative measures she cited from medicine.net. Some of the recommendations included: “If you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual — get help right away” or “Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.” This apparently seemed adequate enough to address the magnitude of such cases occurring on our campus.
To a large number of students, though, it verged on victim-blaming. All students watched the required drinking and sexual assault awareness video training before they arrived as first-years. They have common sense; they know the basics when it comes to being wary in such drinking-heavy environments. Telling students to not accept drinks from other people to avoid getting drugged is like telling a woman going out to not dress sparingly to avoid being raped. This tactic places blame on the victim and does not even address the fact that there was a perpetrator in the first place. In her second email to campus, Dean Martinez apologized for the wording of her first email, stating that “the College does not tolerate the use of drugs to facilitate criminal acts.” However, this apology does not detract from the fact that her first response included a list of suggestions for how to be more careful rather than forcefully condemning the act itself.
Meanwhile, a poster appeared in Beinecke Village on Accepted Students’ Day that read: “In the past 2 weeks, date rape drugs have been used against multiple Hamilton women #SpeakOnIt.” It was gone before many of the accepted students arrived on campus. Taking away the spotlight of these victims takes away an outlet through which date-rape issues can be discussed and worked against. This is inconsiderate of those who have been affected and dismissive of those who could go through something similar in the future. More is needed from the community to show our support to victims and commitment to preventing future attacks.
We as the student body have a specific obligation as well. If you find yourself out with a friend and they seem more intoxicated or out of control than usual — even if they just seem really drunk — you need to help. However important your night or other social obligations may seem, the safety of you and your friends is more important. Sending them home by themselves or with others is not only dismissive and inconsiderate but can actually result in putting them in danger. Now, that’s not to say don’t have fun or don’t worry about yourself but just understand that the events discussed in this article are a part of our reality. They are not to be taken lightly.
If your friend is unconscious, it is critical that you roll them onto their side. If your friend is conscious, get them somewhere safe and give them water. If at this point you have contacted the EMTs (315–859–4000) or Campus Safety (315–859–4141) you have the option to be taken to the hospital. Ambulances allow one visitor inside. Do not let your friend wake up alone. If not already addressed, inform the doctors of symptoms relating to ingestion of ketamine, such as respiratory depression, and ask for a urinalysis and hair-follicle testing.
Sexual assault and substance predation are prevalent across the nation, particularly in college settings. But in a community as small as Hamilton’s, it is vital that we take a stand against these atrocities. We must do better.
