Ou Advocates Research Paper

Despite federal laws issued to combat sexual violence, each year 4,000 college women report to school officials that they've been sexually assaulted. What happens after they file those reports has stirred debate on campuses across the country, leaving parents and students fearful that colleges may not be the ivory towers of security and integrity that appear on their recruitment pamphlets.

According to Nancy Chi Cantalupo, writer in the University Chicago Law Journal, “twenty to twenty-five percent of college women are victims of attempted or completed nonconsensual sex” (Burying Our Heads 207). In October 2014, an eighteen-year-old freshman at Old Dominion University was sexually assaulted. She reported her case to the ODU Police Department where she was treated as a suspect rather than a victim (Jane). The university police department denied this young woman of many things such as a medical examination right away, food, drinks and even did not allow her to use the bathroom (Jane). These factors caused her to suffer multiple injuries mentally, emotionally, and physically (Jane). Many cases of on campus sexual assault has come

Sexual assault is defined as any vaginal, oral, or anal penetration that is forced upon another, regardless of sex and sexual orientation, using any object or body part. The issue of sexual assault in America is primarily encouraged by rape culture. Women Against Violence Against Women is an organization that defines rape culture as a complex set of beliefs that encourage male sexual aggression and supports violence against women. The acceptance of rape culture, rape myths, and the disregard for sexual consent also allow for the perpetuation of sexual assault against women on college campuses. Recent examples of sexual assault on college campuses show how prominent this issue has become and how hostile campuses have become for female students. Some examples include the University of Southern California’s “Gullet Report,” Miami University of Ohio’s “Top Ten Ways to Get Away with Rape,” and a sexual assault on the campus of Kansas University. Sexual assault is perpetuated by the acceptance of rape myths and rape culture, lack of effective sexual education, and the disregard for consent. The solution to this issue lies with defeating rape culture, increasing awareness and funding for campus sexual assault crisis centers, and enacting more prevention programs on campus.

Danger can take shape in many forms, one of the most prevalent in our society today sexual assault. According to the Campus Sexual Assault Study (CSA), 1 of 5 women will be sexually assaulted during their experience at college. This is a staggering and frightening amount. A study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, The Sexual Victimization of College Women, has findings even more grim than the CSA. It states that 1 of 4 college women will be raped.

Sexual assault and rape are serious social and public health issues in the United States and throughout the rest of the world. In particular sexual assault on college campus are prevalent at an alarming rate and leaves serious effects on the victims. This essay will focus on statistics and the prevalence and effects amongst college students, through examining a number of reasons why women fail to report sexual assault and rape. This essay will also cover sexual assault prevention and things that can be done to mitigate the risk of becoming a victim to such matter.

Among female college students, 23% said they experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact ranging from kissing, to touching, to rape. All of these females said it was carried out by force or threat of force, or while they were incapacitated because of alcohol or drugs. This data was collected from a survey taken by 150,000 students from 27 different Universities. (Wallace, Kelley, 2105) Sexual assault is sexual contact or behavior that happens without the consent of the recipient. An attacker that is familiar with the victim commits approximately two out of every three sexual assaults. The American Civil Liberties Union estimates that 95% of U.S. Campus rapes goes unreported. Sexual assaults just

The White House Task Force created to protect college students from being victims of sexual assault published a report in 2014 where is stated that one in five college students will become a victim of an assault while attending college (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 2016). The ACLU says that 95% of all college campus rapes go unreported every single year (American Civil Liberties Union, 2016). We as a society need to ask ourselves what we can do to protect college students. Sexual assault can be defined as involuntary or forced and unwanted sexual activity which can include, kissing, exhibitionism, groping and rape (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 2016). It’s reported that two out of three victims of

Rape is defined by the NCVS as, “forced sexual intercourse including both psychological coercion as well as physical force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or oral penetration by the offender(s)… Includes attempted rapes… verbal threats of rape.” Fisher’s article focuses on the fact that many assaults occur on a campus because they hold “large concentrations of young women” which results in a “greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group.” The study conducted by Fisher et al. found that there are four main factors that

College campus sexual assault has become a growing epidemic. Victims are assaulted by strangers, friends, or acquaintances, and receive no support when reported to the school staff. The importance of making this epidemic more aware to students or school faculty is to show the impact sexual assault has on a victim and their family, but also make it easier for victims to report and discuss their assault. Rape culture is becoming increasingly normalized within college campuses, and poses dangers to all students. The normalization of rape on college campuses promotes a mindset that suppresses victims and does not hold the attacker responsible for his or her actions.

Sexual assault for higher education students occurs more frequently against women, but any gender can be victimized. All ethnicities and social classes are affected. While the rate of violent crime against higher education students aged 18–24 in the United States declined significantly from 1995 to 2002, the rates of rape and other sexual assault largely remained the same. Estimates of sexual assault, which vary based on definitions and methodology, range from 0.61% of female students sexually assaulted annually to 19–27% of college women and 6–8% of college men sexually assaulted during their time in college.

Most college’s sexual assault prevention programs may be useless and unreliable because they are focused on the victims and not the attackers. Most sexual assaults are unreported, giving campus staff worker and campus police authorities the false impression that current efforts are adequate. In additions, campus police may be influenced by college administrators who fear that too strong a persuasion on the problem may lead to potential students and their parents to believe that sexual assault occurs more often at their college than at others. Prevention programs need to focus more on educating both men and women. Programs such as event around campus, especially for men that focus on rape reduction should be mandatory at college campuses. Sexual

Bohmer & Parrot (1993) co-authored the “Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights Act of 1991.” This act was signed into law in 1992. This book in a continuation of what still needs to be done to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment on college campuses. This book covers why college institutions handle sexual assault poorly and the consequence of their negligence. To do this subject justice they focus on the following questions:

This review of Sexual Assault on Campus: The Problem and the Solution will focus on these questions.

Despite the efforts of advocates and activists to end and prevent sexual violence on institutions of higher education, the rate of sexual violence against women on college campuses continues to be 20-25% (ACPA, n.d.). Sexual violence impacts students, faculty, staff, administrators and the entire higher education community, directly or indirectly. Sexual violence affects individuals from across all racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identifications and sexual orientations.

Sexual assault is a prevalent issue in Universities and Colleges across the world. Various post-secondary institutions do not have a proper system for administering the sexual assault crime or act of rape. Although authority figures, including campus police and staff members, do their best to get involved and prevent such devastating events from occurring, sexual abuse continues to take place behind closed doors. With an ever-growing population and University entry rate, students are at greater risk than ever before. Rape is a sparsely reported to law enforcement. Fear of disbelief, lack of dedication to the justice system, or worry of a repeat assault prevent victims from having a voice and spreading their message of concern to others. When individuals stand up and address the issue, it is usually to prevent peers from becoming victim to the same crime.