Universities' Responsibility: Informing Students About Rape

Sexual assault on university campuses is a pervasive issue that demands urgent attention and comprehensive action. While universities have a responsibility to address this problem, there is a concerning history of neglect, with institutions often falling short of their promises to protect students. The introduction of anonymous reporting systems has revealed the extent of the issue, with a significant number of complaints being made in a short period. This highlights the need for universities to create safe and accessible channels for students to report their experiences.

The impact of sexual assault on students cannot be overstated, affecting their mental health, self-confidence, and academic performance. It is imperative that universities prioritise justice and the wellbeing of their students by implementing preventive measures, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering adequate support to survivors.

The prevalence of rape and sexual assault on campuses

Rape and sexual assault are pervasive issues on college campuses, affecting a substantial proportion of the student population. The prevalence of these crimes is particularly notable among undergraduate females, non-binary, and gender-questioning students.

Various factors contribute to the high rates of sexual assault on campuses, including alcohol and drug use, fraternity culture, and societal norms. The party culture prevalent on many campuses, coupled with a lack of supervision and accountability, creates an environment that enables substance abuse and, consequently, sexual violence. Fraternity culture also plays a significant role, fostering an atmosphere of hypermasculinity and aggression that instigates sexual violence.

The reporting rates of campus sexual assault are alarmingly low due to barriers such as fear, stigma, and inadequate institutional responses. Survivors often fear judgement, retaliation, or disbelief, leading to underreporting. The stigma associated with sexual assault can also cause feelings of shame and self-blame, further deterring victims from coming forward. Additionally, universities may choose not to report incidents to protect their reputations, resulting in a lack of support for survivors and accountability for perpetrators.

According to statistics, 13% of all graduate and undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience sexual violence. The prevalence rate among TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) college students is also disturbing, with 23.1% reporting sexual assault.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the risk of campus sexual assault, with rising rates of gender-based violence during periods of shelter-in-place. Additionally, the pandemic's economic constraints and social isolation have further increased the vulnerability of students to sexual violence.

The issue of campus sexual assault demands urgent attention, and comprehensive strategies are needed to address the root causes, improve reporting mechanisms, and provide adequate support and resources for survivors.

Barriers to reporting

Self-doubt and self-blame

Even before a victim reports sexual assault to a college authority, they often have to overcome their own self-doubt and self-blame. Less than half of college women who are raped identify it as rape, even privately. Many described intense doubt about what had happened, and blamed themselves for drinking too much, or for failing to protect themselves.

Shame, guilt, and embarrassment

Shame, guilt, and embarrassment are also significant barriers to reporting. Both men and women reported these as important barriers, with men also fearing being judged as gay if they reported sexual assault.

Concerns about confidentiality

Fears that their names would not be kept confidential were also cited as a reason for not reporting sexual assault.

Fear of not being believed

Fear of not being believed was another barrier to reporting, with both men and women citing this as a concern.

Fear of retaliation

Women also reported the fear of retaliation by the perpetrator as a significant barrier to reporting.

Lack of institutional support

Many students who have reported sexual assault have faced institutional barriers, with colleges and universities failing to provide access to a professional victim's advocate to guide students through the process. Some students reported that their schools did not seem to know how to respond to their reports of sexual assault. Others said that their schools failed to investigate or take their complaints seriously.

Reporting procedures

Even when colleges and universities do have procedures in place for reporting sexual assault, these can be intimidating, unsympathetic, and seem unlikely to result in punishment for the accused. Some students reported that they were discouraged from pursuing disciplinary proceedings by college authorities, who suggested that they take time off or get counselling instead.

Alcohol and drug use

Fears that their friends would get in trouble for drinking or drug use were also cited as a reason for not reporting sexual assault.

Relationship with the perpetrator

Some students reported that they did not want to report sexual assault because they did not want their relationship with the perpetrator to end.

Inadequate training

Colleges rarely spend much time educating students on how to respond appropriately to a friend who has been sexually victimized. Almost 60% of schools provided no response training at all to students, and when they did, they often directed it toward students who were residence hall advisors or security officers rather than the general student population.

Inadequate data

There is also a lack of a uniform measure to collect accurate, standardized data across various demographic groups, and when such measures are implemented, there is a lack of fidelity to reporting accurate numbers by schools.

The impact of sexual assault on survivors

Sexual assault can have a profound and lasting impact on survivors, affecting their physical and mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. Here are some key points outlining the impact of sexual assault on university students:

Physical and Mental Health Consequences

University students who experience sexual assault may suffer from various physical and mental health issues. According to a study by Campbell et al. (2009), sexual violence can lead to extensive negative mental and physical health consequences. This can include conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Zinzow and colleagues (2010) found that the odds of lifetime diagnoses of PTSD and depression increased two to four times for survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, Carey and colleagues (2018) reported that college women who experienced sexual assault during their first semester were associated with elevated rates of clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Academic Performance and Attendance

The trauma of sexual assault can also hinder survivors' ability to learn and continue their studies. Jordan et al. (2014) found a link between sexual victimization and academic performance, suggesting that the impact of sexual assault can extend to survivors' academic lives. This is further supported by a study from Revolt Sexual Assault and The Student Room, which revealed that a quarter of respondents who experienced sexual violence skipped lectures or dropped modules to avoid perpetrators, while 16% suspended their studies or dropped out altogether.

Self-Confidence and Social Life

Sexual assault can also have a detrimental effect on survivors' self-confidence and social lives. The same study from Revolt Sexual Assault and The Student Room found that alongside significant mental health consequences, many students felt a negative impact on their self-confidence and social lives.

Reporting Challenges

Another impact of sexual assault on survivors is the challenge of reporting the incident. Due to fears of not being believed or facing retaliation, many survivors are reluctant to notify officials. This results in underreporting, as mentioned by Sable et al. (2006), who found that both male and female students reported barriers to reporting, including shame, guilt, embarrassment, confidentiality concerns, and fear of not being believed. Additionally, the reporting process itself can be gruelling and traumatic, often involving months of emails, meetings, and phone calls.

Long-Term Impact on Education and Career

The effects of sexual assault can extend beyond the immediate aftermath, impacting survivors' long-term educational and career trajectories. A study by Potter et al. (2018) examined the long-term impacts of college sexual assaults on women survivors and found that 91% of participants reported health problems related to the assault, which they attributed to difficulties in attaining their education and career goals.

Universities' handling of sexual assault cases

In the US, the Clery Act of 1990 and the Campus Sexual Assault Victims' Bill of Rights of 1992 require schools to annually disclose information about campus crime, including specific sexual crime categories, and develop prevention policies. However, compliance with these laws has been uneven, with only about one-third of schools fully complying. Anonymous reporting options, which encourage victims to come forward, are available at only half of the schools.

Universities have also been criticised for their handling of sexual assault investigations, with allegations of mishandling and trivialising allegations. There is also a concern that universities prioritise protecting their reputations over standing up to perpetrators of sexual assault, especially when the perpetrators are members of influential groups or families that make substantial donations to the university.

To address these issues, universities should focus on developing and implementing effective policies and procedures for handling sexual assault cases. They should also provide better support and recovery services for survivors, consider expelling or suspending perpetrators, and work to change the campus culture to prioritise justice and eradicate sexual assault.

Additionally, universities should recognise their role in perpetuating rape culture through traditions and practices that reinforce the idea that victims are responsible for their assaults. Refusing to deal with rape culture is akin to perpetuating it, and universities must address their internal biases and administrative practices that hamper their ability to reduce harm inflicted on students.

Preventing sexual assault on campuses

Sexual violence is a significant health and human rights concern, with extensive negative mental and physical health consequences. It is also a critical public health concern for students attending colleges and universities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sexual violence is "a sexual act that is committed or attempted by another person without freely given consent of the victim or against someone who is unable to consent or refuse."

The prevalence of sexual violence on college campuses is alarmingly high. Studies have found that up to 25% of female college students have reported being victims of sexual violence, with rates of sexual assault particularly high during the beginning of the new school year, known as the "Red Zone." During this period, there is a link between the increased frequency of social gatherings and rates of sexual assault, with 50% of campus sexual assaults occurring during this time.

To address this issue, it is essential to implement comprehensive prevention strategies that target multiple levels of the social ecology, including the individual, relationship, campus, and community levels. Here are some strategies to prevent sexual assault on campuses:

Individual Level:

• Promote healthy relationship skills and positive bystander behaviors: Encourage students to intervene when they witness or become aware of sexual violence or behaviors that increase the risk of sexual violence.
• Provide education on consent and boundaries: Ensure students understand what constitutes consent and how to respect others' boundaries.
• Address risk factors: Identify and address individual-level risk factors for both perpetrators and victims, such as prior perpetration, risky sexual behaviors, sexual and violence-related cognitions, lower socioeconomic status, and excessive alcohol or substance use.
• Promote empathy: Encourage empathy and compassion to counteract risk factors and reduce the likelihood of sexual violence perpetration.
• Offer self-defense training: Teach students physical and verbal self-defense strategies to recognize and respond to dangerous situations effectively.

Relationship Level:

• Challenge peer norms: Address peer attitudes and behaviors that support sexual violence, such as peer approval of forced sex or sexual coercion.
• Intervene in high-risk groups: Target interventions toward high-risk groups, such as male athletes or fraternity members, to challenge norms related to masculinity and sexual aggression.
• Address "hook-up" culture: Recognize the risks associated with "hook-up" relationships and alcohol intoxication in dating contexts, and promote healthy and respectful relationship behaviors.

Campus and Community Level:

• Implement campus-wide policies: Establish and enforce policies that address sexual violence, such as the Campus SaVE Act, and ensure that reporting and response procedures are in place.
• Create an inclusive and supportive campus climate: Foster an environment that respects and supports all students, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity, and address institutional factors that may contribute to sexual violence.
• Collaborate with local communities: Engage with local communities, including bars and other gathering places, to provide bystander training and promote safe environments for students.
• Offer diverse support services: Ensure that support services are accessible and inclusive for all students, including marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, international students, and students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

General Safety Tips for Students:

• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings: Whether on or off-campus, pay attention to your surroundings, avoid walking alone at night, and use campus escort services if available.
• Keep your belongings secure: Lock your doors and windows, and avoid leaving valuables unattended.
• Be cautious with social media: Review your privacy settings and avoid publicly sharing your location to reduce the risk of stalking or targeting.
• Know your resources: Familiarize yourself with campus resources, such as health centers, counseling services, and sexual assault support services, as well as local off-campus support options.
• Make a safety plan: Develop a plan for potentially unsafe situations, including memorizing important phone numbers, carrying emergency cash, and knowing how to reach a safe location.

By implementing these strategies and addressing sexual violence prevention from a comprehensive and multi-level approach, colleges and universities can create safer and more supportive environments for their students.

It is important to note that while these strategies aim to prevent sexual assault, the responsibility for sexual violence always lies with the perpetrator. The suggestions outlined above are intended to empower students and bystanders to recognize and respond to potential risks and provide support to those affected by sexual violence.

Frequently asked questions