I thought your article on the front page of Thursday’s issue brings to light an unfortunate occurrence on campus these past few weeks. I am, incidentally, not referring to sexual assault itself, but rather to the paranoia it has created on the campus. What I am referring to is the front-page photo of a girl suspicious of a young man walking 20 feet behind her.

 

I find myself, a man, walking alone at night daily. Occasionally I look up to realize I am walking about 15 feet behind a girl in the same direction. Normally I would think nothing of this, but then I notice the signs. She’s glancing back a lot. Her pace is quickening. And it hits me like a brick. She thinks I’m a rapist.

 

Suddenly I am awash with paranoia, probably as much as she is feeling. What can I do? Should I turn around and go home a longer way? Should I stop to tie my shoe and let her get ahead? I just want to yell at her: “Hey, I’m not a rapist!” Of course, then I’d only be more suspicious, wouldn’t I?

 

I feel like the term “rape culture” is thrown around, but people don’t worry about paranoia culture. The realization that someone is afraid of you is sickening, and I don’t know what to do about it. However, I think it’s possible that your photo on the front page sensationalizes the problem and is saying “that girl should be afraid of that guy.”

 

James Chapman ’09