Some colleges deal with sexual assault and rape with sensitivity and an attempt to reach a just result. Other colleges, not so much. Richard Perez-Pena reports about an Amherst student’s ordeal in the New York Times article, Student’s Account Has Rape in Spotlight:
AMHERST, Mass. — This year has brought news of student athletes charged with sex crimes at Boston University and at Temple, along with countless other less publicized cases. There have been claims that Wesleyan University tolerated a fraternity house where the abuse of women was common. A gang rape at the University of Massachusetts was reported just this week.
Dana Bolger, an Amherst College junior who said she was raped, helped create a Web site credited with raising awareness about sexual violence at the school.
But none has generated more soul searching, or scrutiny from beyond, than a woman’s wrenching account, published in a campus newspaper last week, of being raped in May 2011 by a fellow student at Amherst College and then being treated callously by college administrators.
“Eventually I reached a dangerously low point, and, in my despondency, began going to the campus’ sexual assault counselor,” the woman wrote in The Amherst Student. “In short I was told: No you can’t change dorms, there are too many students right now. Pressing charges would be useless, he’s about to graduate, there’s not much we can do. Are you SURE it was rape?”
Within hours, the story of the woman, Angie Epifano, became the most-examined episode in memory on this campus of 1,800 students, the subject of online commentary from around the world. It prompted other Amherst students, past and present, to step forward publicly and say that they, too, had been sexually assaulted here, treated poorly afterward, and in many cases had left campus rather than be around assailants who were allowed to remain.
Tension around the issue of sexual misconduct had been simmering for a long time here, escalating in the past year as a group of student activists helped persuade a new college president to make it a priority.
“It was being talked about before, but there’s a big difference between people being willing to talk and other people being willing to hear it and join in,” said Emma Saltzberg, a senior and volunteer advocate for people who have been abused. “It’s amazing to see this campus so worked up.”
The college president, Carolyn A. Martin, who arrived in September last year, said that in her previous jobs, as a top administrator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell University, she had dealt only in passing with the question of sexual violence. But in her first year here, after hearing from students, she made several changes, like having trained investigators look into those cases, revising the student handbook, and hiring a nationally known consultant, Gina M. Smith, to review and revise Amherst’s approach. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/education/amherst-account-of-rape-brings-tension-to-forefront.html?emc=eta1&_r=0
This episode at Amherst and the other revelations of rape from other campuses which were triggered by the Ms. Bolger are part of the sordid history of campus sexual assaults.
Cynthia Mc Fadden reported about campus rapes a couple of years ago for a 2010 Nightline report:
In Many Campus Victims Stay Quiet or Fail to Get Help Mc Fadden reports:
The Center for Public Integrity conducted a 12-month probe into sexual assault on college campuses that was completed earlier this year. The investigation found that students will often keep quiet when they are sexually assaulted because they blame themselves for what happened, don’t realize that what happened to them was a crime or fear that their assailants or others will strike again if they report them….
If you are a college student and you believe you have been a victim of rape on
campus, tell someone immediately.Contact your local rape crisis center, victim advocacy legal organization or rape hotline to find out about your school’s procedures. Often these organizations can be found through your campus police department or health services. You should also go to the hospital or local health clinic and have a rape kit, through which physical evidence is gathered, performed.
Title IX of the Civil Rights Act grants the right to equal access to education. If you believe your school has violated Title IX, or has failed to offer “an equitable policy on sexual assault prevention and response,” you can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.
The episode, Rape on Campus A Shocking Reality be viewed at the Nightline site.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) reports in the article, Sexual Assault on Campus Statistics:
Facts and Figures
- 95% of attacks are unreported, making sexual assault the “silent epidemic.” Sexual assault remains the most drastically underreported crime (*see the paragraph below the statistics for more on why). (1)
- 3% of college women nationally have experienced rape or attempted rape during the academic year. This means, for example, that a campus with 6,000 coeds will have an average of one rape per day during the school year. (2)
- 13% of women are stalked during the academic year, and each stalking episode lasts an average of 60 days. (2)
- 90% of women know the person who sexually assaulted or raped them. (2)
- 75% of the time, the offender, the victim, or both have been drinking. (3)
- 42% of college women who are raped tell no one about the assault. (4)
- 5% of rape incidents are reported to the police. (2) 10 times more rapes are reported to crisis lines than are reported to the police. (5)
- 42% of raped women expect to be raped again. (4)
* While there are many reasons why people do not report, the most often cited reason in a 2009 investigation by the Center for Public Integrity was institutional barriers on campus. Two examples of these institutional barriers are administrators who respond to students with disbelief or other inappropriate behavior and campus judiciary processes that are difficult to understand and follow. Many students who were discouraged because of these barriers transferred or withdrew from their schools, while their alleged attackers were almost uniformly unpunished.(XX) Debunking Myths
Both college women and men harbor misconceptions about sexual assault. Getting the facts is essential to combating sexual assault on campus.
- 71% of rapes are planned in advance. (6)
- 80% of women who are raped try to physically resist. (6)
- 48.8% of the women did not consider what happened to them to be rape even though researchers considered the incidents to be rape. (2)
- 43% of college-aged men conceded to using coercive behavior to have sex (including ignoring a woman’s protest, using physical aggression, and forcing intercourse) but did not admit that it was rape. (7)
The Impact on Victims
Physical and emotional
- 40% of rape survivors develop sexually transmitted diseases as a result of sexual assault. (8)
- 80% of rape victims suffer chronic physical or psychological problems over time. (9)
- 13 times as many rape survivors are more likely to attempt suicide than are people who are not victims of crime. Rape survivors are six times more likely to attempt suicide than are victims of other crimes. (10)
- 25–50% of sexual assault victims seek mental health treatment as a result of the assault. (11)
Academics and achievement
In addition to physical and emotional damage, college students who have been victims of sexual assault suffer from a host of problems that impede their academic achievement.
- In nearly every case, victims cannot perform at the same academic levels that they did prior to the attack.
- Sexual assault sometimes causes students to be unable to carry a normal class load, and they miss classes more frequently. (This is often a result of social withdrawal or a way to avoid seeing the perpetrator.)
- Student victims regularly withdraw from courses altogether.
- In more traumatic incidents, victims leave the school until they recover, sometimes transferring to another college. http://www.aauw.org/act/laf/library/assault_stats.cfm
See, 50 Actual Facts About Rape http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/50-facts-rape_b_2019338.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
Quite often sexual assaults occur in connection with alcohol use and binge drinking. Womens Health has some good information about date rape drugs
What are date rape drugs?
These are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include touching that is not okay; putting something into the vagina; sexual intercourse; rape; and attempted rape. These drugs are powerful and dangerous. They can be slipped into your drink when you are not looking. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, so you can’t tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you become weak and confused — or even pass out — so that you are unable to refuse sex or defend yourself. If you are drugged, you might not remember what happened while you were drugged. Date rape drugs are used on both females and males.
If you are drinking, always keep your drink within view and if there is any question, don’t drink it. The “buddy system” or having friends go out with you is especially good for college freshman. Remember, better safe than sorry.
There are things that college students can do to decrease the possibility of a sexual assault or rape. The Herald Independent, a college newspaper has published How to Avoid Becoming a Campus Crime Victim
Here are some other tips offered by FindLaw.com on how to avoid becoming a victim of campus crime:
* Become familiar with the security system at your college or university. Find out how to report a crime (such as the location of emergency call boxes); where to get crime alerts; how to access community safety officers and escorts when going to and from buildings and parking lots on campus; and where to ask for specific security procedures for your dorm if you’re living on campus.
* Use alcohol with caution. The use of alcohol can make a student more vulnerable to crime, and it can increase aggressiveness in other students. According to a study by Towson State University, half of all rapes on college campuses involve alcohol. In another study by the Harvard School of Public Health, 77 percent of students who live around a binge drinker will experience at least one secondhand effect of the drinking, such as assault or receiving a DUI. It’s best to drink responsibly and in moderation. Avoid attending and especially leaving a college party alone. In addition, never accept a drink from a stranger and don’t leave a drink unattended.
* Become familiar with areas immediately surrounding your college campus that may offer higher incidences of crime. Check with your campus security office about areas to avoid.
* Avoid posting too much personal information on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, which can be used by stalkers.
* Write your name in permanent ink on valuables such as books, laptops, stereos and TVs. Never include other personal information such as your address, social security number or birth date, which could be used by identity thieves.
* Don’t walk alone at night, and stick to well-lit streets and areas. If you believe you’re being followed, walk fast to an area where there are people or a security guard. Be aware of your surroundings at night and have your keys readily available. Avoid being one of the only or few students in a campus building by yourself. Use the security services provided by your university, such as a campus escort service.
* Many schools publish student phone numbers and e-mail addresses on a Web site. Under the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act, you can ask your college or university to remove your personal information.
* The overwhelming majority of rapes involve someone the victim knows. To many, it’s known as date rape. Sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault, but you can take steps to avoid it. Clearly communicate what you want and don’t want. Set your limits before you go on a date. Use caution if you and your date are using alcohol. Let a friend or roommate know with whom you’re going on a date, where you’re going and when you think you’ll be back.
* Park in well-lit areas that are close to foot traffic. Roll up your windows, lock the doors and never leave valuables in plain sight, including college textbooks. Use a college escort when returning to your car when it’s dark.
* Prevent dorm room burglary and other crimes by always keeping your dorm room locked, even when you’re in it. Never let a stranger into your dorm or campus apartment building. Don’t prop open doors or windows to allow friends to get in or out after curfew hours. If you see a door or window into your dorm braced open for others to get in, close the door and make sure it’s locked. Don’t loan out your room key or fob to anyone, and don’t put your name or address on your room key.
For more information about how to avoid campus crime, visit FindLaw.com.
Students need to use common sense and caution, especially in unfamiliar situations. If you or some one you know has been raped, Naomi Rockler-Gladen’s article, College Students and Sexual Violence has some excellent tips.
Get yourself to a safe place. Don’t be shy about calling 911, especially if you are injured or if you fear another attack. If at all possible, find a supportive person who can help you, like a close friend or a residence assistant.
- Resist the urge to take a bath or a shower. Cleaning yourself is a natural impulse, but don’t. Your body is covered with physical evidence that can help catch the rapist. Preserve all evidence, such as your clothing.
- Get medical attention immediately! Even if you do not plan to report the rape, it is crucial that you seek help at the campus health center or elsewhere. Prompt medical assistance reduces you chance of developing some STDs, and many women choose to take the morning after pill to prevent pregnancy. Rape victims also sustain other physical injuries, and you may be more hurt than you realize. Yes, an intimate medical exam is the last thing you want after such a horrible experience, but it’s something you need to do for the sake of your health.
- Get psychological counseling as soon as possible. Rape is a traumatic experience, and most women need help coping. Be kind to yourself and get the help you need! Most campus counselors are well trained to help rape victims. A great resource is the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
- Report the assault to the campus and/or city police. Many women choose not to do this, and their decisions should be respected. But if you are raped, please consider reporting it. Doing so may prevent the rapist from hurting someone else, and if enough women report rapes, rape statistics may go down because the consequences will go up. And even if the rapist never strikes again, that bastard deserves to be punished. If there’s a chance the rapist could attack you again, definitely report him.
When students arrive on campus and even before the decision to enroll is made, students and parents need to inquire about the level of security on college campuses. They need to inquire about late evening transportation, dorm security, notification to students of criminal activity, and whether crime statistics for the campus are reported and available. As the saying goes, an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
See:
To Combat Rape on Campus Schools Should Stop Keeping It Quiet
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