Judge Kavanaugh was recently confirmed into the Supreme Court of the United States in a shocking turn of events following his senate judiciary hearing.

   This hearing saw him and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testifying to the events that transpired during a party in their high school careers. Dr. Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

  However, after a brief FBI investigation turned up empty about the events that happened that night, Kavanaugh was confirmed.
  This entire scenario has gripped the nation for weeks and has lead to some understandably germane conversations about sexual assault and staying safe at parties, an especially relevant topic for teenagers.

  There has always been a multitude of advice given about staying safe at parties—everything from keeping an eye on your drink to being aware of your surroundings to knowing self-defense.

While this advice helps keep many safe from potentially dangerous scenarios, it only sheds light on half of the story.

  All of these tips focus on only the potential victims of sexual assault, perhaps giving off the harmful impression that sexual assault is something that can be controlled or avoided with the right steps, which in reality is far from the truth.

  The person truly controlling the assault is the perpetrator and only the perpetrator, a figure who remains in the dark in this discussion. Both parties need to be discussed for prevention of assault to be successful.

  So while these tips are necessary, it wouldn’t hurt to teach people to be respectful of others’ decisions and the fundamental rights they have over themselves.

So where does this bring us?

   As a new generation, we have the ability to turn the tables on the stigma associated with the prevention of sexual assault and pave a new path based off of mistakes we have learned from the past.

  This shouldn’t include a one-sided story, but one that shows that respect is not just ideal. It is a necessity.