Old news on campus, actually.
Some of us fuddy-duddy types sometimes forget (and get gently chided), but mostly "first year student" has become the standard usage in higher ed. Here at PC College, we even use FY as our abbreviation.
I've never heard the "promote rape" argument before, but that could just be because I now tend to tune out as a waste of my time the reasons given for all these institutional sillinesses. Otherwise I'd go completely (or more completely, I suppose some would say) bonkers.
I mean, ours is a school that requires each of us to fill out a special "carbon footprint" form whenever we want to get reimbursed for travel expenses, and whose physical look is now defined by a giant phallus (er, wind turbine) on the hill above it and an ever growing number of mirror farms (er, solar panels). We've been doing the "Vagina Monologues" for years now every February, and this fall we had a production of the "Vibrator Play."
[rockon]
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)