Have any girls experienced guys harassing them on campus??
It happens to me quite frequently, but when I've brought it up to my friends and other girls, they don't have similar experiences on campus.
Today while I was on campus two of the basketball players came up. After asking for my number and me denying, he reasoned by saying it's not cheating on his girlfriend if him and I just talk... gross! As soon as he said that I noticed his friend filming while laughing and shouting. I walked away immediately.
This is the second time this type of interaction (two men approach and one of them talks to you inappropriately while the other films) has happened to me since starting college. For reference, I just entered my second year at UNLV.
Last semester, a total of 13 guys (yes, I counted and no not including the ones who were genuinely sweet and asked me out on a proper date) went out of their way to catcall me or say disrespectful remarks.
Here's just a few standout instances where this happened while I was on campus at UNLV:
- One of the men was waiting outside my 8 AM class and told me him and his friend had been "watching me" for awhile (so creepy). He proceeded to tell me a string of profanities about how my physical appearance apparently made him feel. Then he grabbed my hand and put a crumpled up piece of paper with his phone number written down on it into my palm before he shut my hand with his. Mind you... it was 8 AM!! Wayyy to early for any of this nonsense but apparently not too early for this man to be a creepy stalker. Needless to say, I was completely shaken up the rest of the day and bombed my math exam.
- Over the summer, when I was taking summer session classes, I was studying alone on the fifth floor before I noticed a man find himself a seat nearby in the same area. It was summer so Lied was nearly empty, and I found it strange that he would sit nearby. I was on my guard of course but didn't think he posed a threat until he came up after twenty minutes and told me his thoughts on how I looked. Survival instincts had me immediately packing up my stuff to leave while asking him what classes he's taking over the summer (trying to steer the conversation to be about school), he tells me he's not a student at UNLV, he just likes to walk around campus. Major creeper alert... and I told him so. I said it's creepy that he does that, he said he does it on California campuses too (not making his case any better), and finally after the second time he asked for my number and I denied, he left.
Other notable instances:
- Old man professor came up and told me "You know, I don't see a whole lotta girls who looks like they belong in a magazine but you do!" (...Wtf)
- Male student came up to me while I was alone taking a call: "You look like you know all the good spots." (Insane... and during finals week too!?)
- Male math tutor who would help me with math for a moment before asking me several personal questions. At some point he followed me outside after I left the tutoring clinic and asked for my number. (As you can imagine, not for math reasons)
The most frustrating part of all of this is that it's fine.
These men are not harassing, assaulting, or threatening me, so I can't do anything about it (besides feel my self-esteem plummet and wonder if I will ever have my first boyfriend but no man has been respectful towards me yet for me to even consider the possibility of one). I know this because I have told security about these instances and they say they're sorry that it's happening but they can't do anything about it. Which I understand, because obviously it's not illegal for guys to be mean to girls. It just sucks.
Also, it's not what I wear. It's hot as hell in Vegas so yes me and all the other girls in this city are wearing shorts and crop tops occasionally. But these instances have also happened when I'm wearing a hoodie and sweatpants with no makeup on. It's not what girls wear. It's predatory men being exactly what they are: predators.
Ultimately I'm just frustrated this keeps happening and I would like to hear other girls' stories if they have any. Also PSA to any incoming first-year girls on campus to please be vigilant and learn how to defend yourself against these predatory men on our campus.