Maura OBrien, Daniela Rojas Medina, Annabelle Schmitt

College is supposed to be the best four years of anyones life, yet according to NCJRS1, 19 to
27% of women and 6 to 8% of men are sexually assaulted during these years. Sexual assaults should
not be part of the college experience and certainly should not be occurring at such high rates in a place
that encourages safety, tolerance, nonviolence, and open communication. Universities must take steps
to lessen the occurrences of sexual assault on campus. Although the issue of sexual assault on college
campuses is not new, the reality of sexual assault in college has come to the forefront of society
recently and is receiving more attention and exposure in the media. Sources such as Time Magazine,
Huffington Post, and National Public Radio are unearthing and investigating rape culture on campus,
forcing universities to address the issue. Entertainment sources have also begun to address the issue,
such as Netflixs documentary, The Hunting Ground, which sheds light on the frequency of rape
occurrences in college.

This frequency is illustrated by the unfortunate statistic

that 19% of women, nearly one in five, said they had been a
victim of attempted or completed rape, either by force or while
they were incapacitated due to alcohol or drugs, during their
freshman year.2. It is evident that rape and sexual harassment
affects many individuals and becomes relevant the moment
US Bureau Of Justice. The Only Acceptable % Is
Zero. Digital image.Endrapeoncampus.org. End
Rape On Campus, 27 Jan. 2016. Web. 15 Apr.
2016. <http://endrapeoncampus.org/erocblog/2016/1/26/bjs-campus-climate-survey-keyhighlights>.

freshmen step onto a college campus. Universities have a moral

obligation to aid student victims of sexual assault and present
comprehensive educational programs that take early preventative

measures to end sexual assault. Understanding why sexual assault occurs, who falls victim, and the
educational programs in place today will help universities reform their programs to resonate with their
students and bring about the change needed to lower the occurrences of sexual assault.

Frequency of Sexual Assault Among Students

On the weekends, students tend to drink excessively in order to release stress. This party
culture creates the perfect opportunity for students to engage in casual sex. In recent years,
participating in such activities has become more socially acceptable. While some may praise this
acceptance of sexuality, it must be understood that it can create problems if universities do not address
the resultant issues. The emphasis on hookup culture juxtaposed with heavy drinking at parties results
in a blurred and misconstrued concept of intimacy. Students are more likely to make poor decisions
with grave consequences when under the influence of alcohol. Many students may end their night with

a hook up, which may or may not be consensual. In

fact, a study at Bucknell University found that 77.8% of
non-consensual sex were the result of a hook up.3
Furthermore, the existence of rape culture, in
which students are told to stop asking for it, rather
than to not rape, does nothing to prevent sexual assault
from occurring in such environments. Such a culture of
blaming the victim creates confusion among young men
and women. In fact, a survey from the University of
Minnesota showed that an overwhelming majority of
women that had been sexually violated did not believe

Workplace Answers. The Truth About Sexual Violence on

America's College Campuses. Digital image. Campusanswers.com.
Campus Answers, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.

that what happened constituted as rape4. In addition, students lack a true understanding of consent. A
survey conducted by the Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation found that 54 percent of
participants think nodding in agreement counts; 47 percent say consent is gained if the person takes off
his or her clothes, and 40 percent say getting a condom means yes 5. Programs need to clearly
define and educate college students on the parameters of a yes and no to reform this mindset.
The party culture and hook up culture of colleges will always be a part of the college
experience. Acceptance of such cultures is not what causes sexual assault; rather, sexual assault is the
result of students not understanding how to navigate such cultures. In order to create and maintain a
safe campus environment, universities must take steps to ensure that students can navigate them.

Victimized Groups

Women are perceived as the most victimized group of sexual assault and receive the most
attention when discussing this issue. While heterosexual women are certainly a large group targeted by
assaulters in college campuses, men and LGBTQs also make up a significant part of the student body
that the public often fails to take into consideration. As aforementioned, 6% to 8% of men are sexually
assaulted. A shocking amount of over 70% of LGBTQ students are sexually harassed while enrolled in
a university6. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer students are victims of sexual assault,
just as much or to a higher degree than their heterosexual peers. According to a study done by the
University of Michigan, LGBTQs are more likely to be victims of sexual assault in college, which is
clearly shown in these statistics7. Members of the LGBTQ community experience the same sexual
assault in their intimate relationships as heterosexuals, but more often it is due to hate crimes and
intolerance8. According to a study published by Herek in 1999 on such hate crimes, 41% of LGBTQs
reported being victims of hate crimes early in life, even as early as the age of 169. LGBTQs are not
only assaulted in college, but also by their own families. Many are also subjected to such assaults by
members of their own communities, particularly, when they grow up in intolerant areas10. Hate and
violence against LGBTQs is unfortunate and completely unacceptable, especially in the year 2016
after all the advancements made to accept minorities. Universities nationwide are currently attempting
to approach the issues surrounding sexual assault; however, many of them are tackling the issue very
broadly. Only 31% of LGBTQ students feel their university administration addresses their unique
needs on campus11. Colleges must create new programs or improve and reform the current programs to
cater to the needs of this small, but very important, campus community.

Reforming and Implementing Programs

Some current programs have made great progress toward reforming the issue of sexual assault
on campus. However, such programs are only one of a number of steps that universities must take to
lower sexual assault occurrences on campus. Universities must ensure that they maintain a thorough
university policy that is made known to all students. Most importantly, however, extremely
comprehensive educational programs must be implemented at universities.
Universities ought first to establish an official policy statement regarding sexual assault in
order to reform this issue that is widely distributed and made clearly known to students. This policy
must clearly delineate when and where sexual assault is likely to occur, how to report it if one
witnesses it, the resources available to students should they be victimized, the severe consequences
perpetrators face, and how students can protect themselves12. Given that most rapes go unreported, this

policy must also encourage victims to report incidents. Furthermore, this policy must provide a clear
and expansive definition of sexual assault. Students must understand what constitutes sexual assault in
the eyes of the university, and universities must ensure that their definition covers the possible
occurrences that students may label as sexual assault.
Beyond a clear policy, colleges must implement better programs to raise awareness of sexual
assault, to teach students not to engage in such behavior, and to show students how to handle such
situations. Programs should make students aware of the resources available to them, especially in the
event of sexual assault. Colleges have resources for victims, but unless these resources are made
known to students, students will never use them if the need arises. Furthermore, mandatory hands-on
workshops or more in-depth, in-person classes should be implemented to educate students about
sexual assault and teach the necessary concepts students must understand in order to stop sexual
assault.
While some colleges do have interactive programs in place, the quality of such programs is
entirely lacking. Many college campuses employ one-session programs or online courses that
incoming students are required to complete. These programs are short, bland, and ultimately
ineffective. Students often see completion of such programs as a chore, rather than a serious and
important stepping stone in creating a safe college experience for everyone. Behavioral scientist Sarah
DeGue commented that traditional programs aimed at prevention are brief one hour or less and
focused on improving knowledge about the problem,"13 and while knowledge is important, based on
her findings, it's clear these programs don't prevent people from perpetuating sexual violence.14
Some institutions, however, are taking the right steps. Some have begun implementing
bystander intervention training15 to teach students how to respond if they encounter dangerous
situations regarding sexual assault. Green Dot, an educational intervention strategy, teaches college

students to set norms that don't tolerate violence and how to intervene when they see a risk
looming16. This type of action oriented program has proven to be effective for many universities and
schools, as it strengthens peer to peer relationships by teaching them when to intervene in violent
words, actions, or behaviors17. Students engage in fake scenarios in which they practice this skill of
intervention. When Kentucky high schools implemented the Green Dot program, over the following
five years, a 50% drop in sexual violence over five years occurred18. Bystander intervention training
should be implemented in every sexual assault education program, as the culture surrounding the
viewpoint on helping possible victims improves, more students should be confidently equipped to
identify when to intervene in risky situations.
Hands on programs are obviously more effective in reaching students actual emotions.
Involving them in scenarios and open discussions about sexual assault allows students to develop a
better understanding of the negative impacts of rape and other sexual violence so that they do not
engage in such behavior themselves. Beyond this, however, such programs must raise awareness about
the reality of sexual assault. Students must understand that they are at real risk, especially at parties in
which alcohol consumption is common and leads to judgment impairment. Approximately one half of
all sexual assault occurrences involve alcohol consumption19, whether on the perpetrators end, the
victims end, or both. This statistic has been shown to be consistent across all populations, meaning
that this statistic is also true of college students.
With the existence of rape culture in the nightlife scene of colleges students, it is also
imperative that universities address victim blaming. A University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus
Police officer stated in an interview, If you present yourself as easy prey then expect to attract some
wolves20. The fact that even a campus official uses such language is appalling, and also exemplifies
societys issue of victim blaming. Even more, it illustrates that even universities fail to address victim

blaming. In fact, the Psychology of Women Quarterly found that a mere 35.6% of universities
mentioned victim blaming among all of their sexual violence information and only 30% stressed
affirmative consent. Victim blaming creates a hostile environment for victims, in which they do not
feel safe reporting incidents. It also creates the mentality that perpetrators need not worry about the
consequences of their actions. Universities must cover such issues to properly address sexual assault21.

Possible Issues

Many universities believe that their current programs are enough or simply do not want to take
the time, money, and resources to reform current programs or implement new programs. While it is
true that such changes will require large amounts of funding and planning to execute, universities must
understand that sexual assault is a dire issue and that it must be addressed.
The money used to fund the programs already in place can be used to create new programs
instead. If more funds are necessary, there are many venues universities can go through to obtain them.
Every college also has an alumni network that donates money yearly. Oftentimes, alumni want to
leave their own mark on the university; this means that some alumni donate grandiose amounts of
money in order to have certain programs named after themselves. Advertising this as such an
opportunity would surely bring in the needed funds. Universities that may not have such an extensive
or wealthy alumni network, can still apply to grants through the state, local, or even federal
government. Reaching out to organizations that deal with sexual violence, e.g. The National Sexual
Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), No More, and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence,
could also aid universities in establishing more effective programs.

As universities take the necessary steps to deal with sexual assault, issues are likely to arise.
The significance of such a distressing issue, however, takes precedence over any and all such issues,
and universities must uphold their moral obligation to students to create the best learning environment
for them.

Conclusion

Colleges have a moral obligation to end sexual assault on campus. Universities are educational
institutions, but beyond that, they are places for students to grow and develop. Sexual assault does
more than harm students bodies. The mental and psychological impact of such traumatic experiences
can harm how students engage in future relationships. Psychological distress induced by sexual assault
will affect a students development, so colleges must be proactive in their approach to prevent assault.
Universities must take further steps to end this dilemma once and for all. Comprehensive educational
programs and workshops should be implemented to early to lessen the likelihood of sexual assault
from occurring. Programs should also incorporate hands on workshops that emphasize inclusion for
LGBTQs, and bystander intervention programs that provide help to possible victims. The only way
that educational programs can thrive is if students are encouraged to participate in an active manner
through hands on workshops with the aid of strong university backing. Sexual assault has no place on
college campuses; thus, the aforementioned suggestions ought to be taken into account by university
legislators nationwide.

Endnotes
1

The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study. National Criminal Justice Reference Service: NCJRS. Dec. 2007. Web.

Sommers, Christina Hoff. Researching the Rape Culture of America, An Investigation of Feminist Claims about
Rape.. The Real Issue. University of Minnesota. Web.

Kern, Lauren, and Noreen Malone. The Sex Lives of College Students. The Cut. The New York Magazine. 18 Oct.
2015. Web. <http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/10/sex-lives-of-college-students.html>.
4
Sommers, Christina Hoff. Researching the Rape Culture of America, An Investigation of Feminist Claims about
Rape.. The Real Issue. University of Minnesota. Web.
5
Howard, Beth. How Colleges Are Battling Sexual Violence. U.S. News & World Report. 28 Aug. 2015. Web.
<http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/08/28/how-colleges-are-battling-sexual-violence>.
6
Kingkade, Tyler. LGBT Students Face More Sexual Harassment And Assault, And More Trouble Reporting It.
Huffington Post. 14 July 2014. Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lgbt-students-sexualassault_us_55a332dfe4b0ecec71bc5e6a>.
7
Ibid.
8
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Community. Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
(WCSAP). Web. <http://www.wcsap.org/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer-community>.
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
"LGBT College Statistics." LGBT College Statistics. Web. <http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advicetips/DC54CA9B/LGBT-College-Statistics/>.
12
Rape Treatment Center. Campus Rape, What Colleges Can Do. Web. <http://www.911rape.org/campus-rape/whatcolleges-can-do>.
13
Howard, Beth. U.S. News & World Report.
14
Ibid.
15
Howard, Beth. U.S. News & World Report.
16
Ibid.
17
Bystander Intervention: Campaigns and Programs. National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). Web.
<http://www.nsvrc.org/bystander-intervention-campaigns-and-programs>.
18
Howard, Beth. U.S. News & World Report.
19
"Alcohol and Sexual Assault." National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Web.
<http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-1/43-51.htm>.
20
Smith, Tovia.College Straddle Line Between Assault Prevention and Victim-Blaming. National Public Radio. 21 Nov.
2014. Web.<http://www.npr.org/2014/11/21/365460145/colleges-straddle-line-between-assault-prevention-and-victimblaming.>
21
Lund, Emily and Thomas, Katie. Necessary But Not Sufficient. Sexual Assault Information on College and University
Websites. Psychology of Women Quarterly. Web.
<http://pwq.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/08/03/0361684315598286.abstract>.

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