Persuasive Essay On College Drinking

According to a recent survey conducted by Student Monitor, a college market research company, college student’s state that the three biggest problems on college campuses are the cost, stress and drinking. Now more than ever, college binge drinking is becoming a relevant issue and it is often linked to rape and sexual assault. A recent study conducted by, The Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking and Related Problems, found “that alcohol use of any kind on campuses across the country each year results in 1,800 deaths; 600,000 injuries; 700,000 assaults by someone under the influence; and nearly 1 million rapes and sexual assaults”. There have been initiatives to lower college tuition and support systems to cope with the stress of school, but no specific and universal
Sexual assault is a major problem on college campuses and increases through the use of binge drinking. Considering this, I believe that if the United States enforced a stricter punishment for sexual assault and rape, these crimes would drastically decrease. Although there are established penalties for rape, these penalties can vary significantly. According to Lauren Baldwin, the “charge will depend on the type of force used…such as a rape at gun point. Possible sentences can range from one year to even life in prison, depending on the provisions of each state’s sentencing statute or sentencing guidelines”. However, the punishment for “criminal sexual contact without a weapon that involves only force or coercion, however, can be a misdemeanor. An offender convicted of a misdemeanor can be sentenced to up to one year in a jail but is not required to serve time in prison” (Baldwin). Clearly, there is not one clear penalty for any type of sexual assault. I believe that the United States enacted a severe punishment, such as a minimum of 10 years in prison for any sexual assault, these crimes would be