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Audrie's Law, friend's attack inspire Monte Sereno teen to address sexual assault

Los Gatos Weekly-Times - 4/7/2017

April 07--April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the importance of which is underscored by the number of sexual assaults that occur in this country: The National Sexual Violence Resource Center says one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. The center also estimates that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

Child abuse is an all too familiar subject to Monte Sereno teen Tatum Osborne, who wrote an "Open Letter to Women" essay for her advanced placement English class. The essay calls on educators to provide students with sex education classes that teach students about consent and sexual violence.

"Both boys and girls need to be aware of what consent means and their right to give it," Tatum said. "It should be incorporated into sex education in high school. I think talking about sexual assault and consent can fill a gap in high school sex ed courses."

Tatum's experience with the sexual assault issue dates back to fourth grade.

"A friend came to me and other girls, and said her uncle was sexually assaulting her," Tatum said. "But I was the only girl who told my mom about the situation. A police officer said I saved my friend from a life of fear and shame."

Although Tatum lost track of her friend, she never forgot her.

Tatum, who is a junior, takes classes online through the California Connections Academy at Ripon, is enrolled in college level Algebra II and physics on Shmoop.com, attends art class at West Valley College and is a film and production student at Silicon Valley Career Technical Education, where she's producing a public service announcement video.

"I'm developing storyboards and a script, and my friends will be in it," Tatum said. "California Connections is going to run it on their Facebook page."

Tatum approached Los Gatos High School about including the public service announcement in sex ed courses, but was told the state dictates course material. So, she hopes it will be shown at high school peer-to-peer groups.

"This stuff needs to be talked about in order to make a difference," Tatum said. "That's why I'm so passionate."

Locally, the sexual assault topic received widespread attention in September 2012, when Saratoga High School sophomore Audrie Pott was sexually assaulted after passing out at a party. Three boys, who ultimately pleaded guilty to assault, scrawled lewd messages on Audrie's body and took photographs that surfaced on social media a few days later.

Audrie hung herself in despair on Sept. 12, 2012.

The case resulted in Audrie's Law being passed by the Legislature, allowing California prosecutors to seek harsher sentences for juvenile sex offenders.

Tatum addressed Audrie's case in her essay. "In a Rolling Stone article, one of the boy's parents called it 'a prank by a few kids.' It is hard to imagine that anyone would perceive this inexcusable behavior as a prank," Tatum wrote. "We can no longer accept this behavior."

Tatum views her advocacy as a long-term commitment. Her post-college career goal is to be a creative director for a magazine, but socially she plans to be a women's rights advocate.

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(c)2017 the Los Gatos Weekly-Times (San Jose, Calif.)

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