We are living in a new age, and sometimes that isn't so bad. Sometimes there's a bit of enlightenment that peeks out through the sagging morality, questionable values and checkbook justice.

Last week, a 19-year-old college student told police she was sexually assaulted by a man whom she met after answering a campus bulletin board ad recruiting "art models."

She met him at a restaurant and then followed him to his place.

There was a time not very long ago when a woman would hesitate reporting something like this.

She might have worried about being believed.

She might have worried about being blamed.

After all, she contacted the guy. She met with him. She went to his place, just the two of them, where she agreed to let him take art photos of her, whatever the understood definition of that was, in exchange for money.

None of this set off her "sketchy" radar, the self-protecting sense that women are supposed to have, at least according to those who have never seen how cleverly the big bad wolves can disguise those big teeth they have.

Conversely, the man would be seen as a caution, but not a criminal, as in "can't blame a guy for trying."

But she did make a report and it was taken seriously.

Police made an arrest and the university administration sent out a campus-wide warning.

In the typical TV crime drama version of this story, the victim would be blamed for bad judgment. You're not supposed to go to the home of a strange man. You're not supposed to answer ads on bulletin boards for art models, a term with all sorts of connotations. You're supposed to bring a buddy and a baseball bat along, just in case.

If you got victimized, it's your fault for being a victim.

Of course, time will tell how this case plays out; but just that it is being considered so seriously is a sign that the efforts of so many advocates for justice, for the safety of women, for the right of every person to say "no" no matter the circumstance have not been in vain.

Two months ago, the president of the university held a news conference to declare UH a "rape-free zone." It was announced that money would be put into campus budgets for call boxes, outside lighting, fences, locks and surveillance cameras; all the sort of things to deter wolves from jumping out of the bushes late at night.

But that's not the only way they find their prey. It's not even the most common way. Often, it's with compliments and promises.

These days, thank goodness, we know that.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.