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Jaime Gabrielli
Aug 29

Campus Assault: Bigger Than the Red Zone


The first few months of fall semester are called the “Red Zone” because it’s the time when most sexual assaults occur on college campuses. With students back on campus across the country, TFC’s Jaime Gabrielli highlights factors that contribute to the prevalence of campus sexual assault.


Starting college is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming rite of passage for young adults. It’s a time of new beginnings, independence, and personal discovery. As new students find their bearings and acclimate to life on campus, they’re also entering a period of intensified vulnerability to sexual assault.


RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, estimates over 50% college sexual assaults occur between August and November. The “Red Zone” is a term used to highlight the increased risk for sexual violence new students encounter during these first few months of the fall semester. The Red Zone is by no means the only time college students face the threat of sexual assault, but it is a great time to build knowledge about the misconceptions and factors that contribute to sexual violence on college campuses.


College Sexual Violence Is a Widespread Problem


Sexual assault accounts for 23.6% of on-campus crimes. However, many parents and new students are unaware of its prevalence, particularly among young women. One in four undergraduate women report experiencing sexual violence or misconduct, and female students ages 18-24 face a risk that is three times greater than older women. Although women are most often the primary victims, it is important to remember that sexual violence does not discriminate. Students with marginalized identities because of their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or citizenship status also encounter higher rates of sexual violence. And while men are typically less at risk, those enrolled in college are 78% more likely to experience sexual assault compared to men of the same age who are not enrolled.


Graphics from Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics (RAINN)


Myths About Sexual Assault


Misinformation and victim-blaming myths about consent and the true nature of sexual violence are major reasons that student sexual misconduct goes unreported. It’s a common but widely promoted misconception that sexual assaults are at least partially the survivor’s fault, preventing them from getting the help they need and deserve.


Misleading theories about rape aid perpetrators of sexual violence by excusing their behavior and allowing them to avoid consequences and criminal prosecution. While young women might feel prepared with rape whistles and pepper spray, many are not aware they are most at risk of being violated by someone they know, and an assault is likely to happen somewhere they would otherwise feel safe, like their dorm room.


It is also confusing to discover that sexual violence typically does not look like what most people think of as violence or even aggression. Unlike what we see in movies, most perpetrators never use weapons or threats of physical harm to coerce their victims because they don’t need to. Many victims don’t come forward because they fear it might cause life-long harm to the person who violated them. However, it is crucial to note that violent sexual behavior during college does not end at graduation. Many perpetrators of sexual violence are serial offenders who continue to seek and find opportunities to commit assaults throughout their adult lives. The truth is that sexual assault is never caused by the victim—whether they had a previous sexual relationship with the perpetrator, what they were wearing, or if they fought back doesn’t matter. Sexual violence is always the fault of the person taking away the targeted individual’s choice and control over their own body.


Consent graphic from Healthy Relationships – Consent 101 (Pathfinders for Autism)


Alcohol Does Not Cause Rape


One of the most cumbersome and prevailing myths surrounding college sexual assault is if someone was raped while intoxicated, they were “asking for it.” Studies have found that about half of sexual assaults on college campuses happen after the perpetrator, the victim, or both have been drinking. That doesn’t mean alcohol should be considered the cause of unwanted sexual advances and other forms of sexual harassment and assault.


Many incoming freshmen are having their first experiences with parties and substances while learning to navigate a culture that encourages drinking and “hooking up.” New students are socially vulnerable because they are not familiar with their environment, don’t have a solid group of friends, and feel pressure to be accepted by their peers. Most do not realize that alcohol is the number one tool used by perpetrators of sexual assault because it is accessible and incredibly effective at incapacitating potential victims. They seek out settings like parties to find vulnerable individuals, like inexperienced freshmen who are less likely to report, because intoxication is still regularly used to justify rape.


Victims who are intoxicated when they are assaulted cannot legally give consent, but often experience high levels of shame, confusion, self-blame, and incur negative reactions from others if they do speak out. Regardless of the circumstances, no one ever chooses or deserves to be sexually violated or assaulted. The excessive use of alcohol does carry consequences, such as a hangover or possible legal repercussions, but rape should never be a consequence of drinking. Eliminating stigma around alcohol-involved sexual victimization is essential to ensure victims feel safer coming forward and that we are addressing the root causes of the issue.


A Growing Crisis


Though evidence reveals an alarming prevalence of campus sexual assault, it remains largely invisible and unchecked. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. While reports of crimes on college campuses have decreased significantly during the last 5-10 years, reports of sexual assault have not. They are the most reported crimes on college campuses, with the number of reported forcible sexual offenses increasing by 363% between 2009 and 2019. Considering 90% of assaults are not reported, the scale of this problem is likely much greater than the research reflects.


Victims commonly suffer short- and long-term health problems, such as sexually transmitted infections, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, chronic illness, and post-traumatic stress disorder, but many never receive support. Barriers like limited knowledge about rights and resources, self-blame, shame, fear of retaliation, and stigma all too often prevent student survivors from sharing and even understanding what happened to them. Students who are sexually assaulted during college also have a greater rate of absenteeism and less academic success.


Alternative Options and Resources for Student Survivors


For many college rape survivors, coming forward about their assault does not feel like a safe or realistic option. Filing a formal complaint within the university system and local authorities can be retraumatizing, leaving survivors feeling more exposed. Reporting to Title IX officials is encouraged by universities, but this process rarely results in increased feelings of safety or justice for student victims. For an investigative story published in 2022, USA TODAY data analysts found that colleges suspended just 1 of every 12,400 students enrolled each year for committing sexual offenses, and only 1 in 22,900 were expelled.


Because of the enormous scope and devastating ramifications of this issue, organizations across the country are working to create alternate reporting options and find accessible ways to educate students about their rights:

  • Know Your Title IX is a student-led project designed to advocate for survivors and inform them about their rights and ways to address violence and discrimination within their schools.

  • Callisto is a nonprofit that uses technology to offer a secure alternative to traditional reporting methods. They provide tools designed to identify serial perpetrators and connect victims with information about legal options while protecting their privacy and agency.

  • Seek then Speak is an app created to help sexual assault survivors and their loved ones learn more about receiving medical care, reporting to authorities, and supportive services. For those who choose to report to law enforcement, the website provides a self-guided interview to start that process and prepare them for what to expect.


Changing the Conversation About Prevention


A common topic surrounding college sexual assault is how to prevent it. Unfortunately, many prevention efforts focus more on how women can avoid being raped (travel in groups, don't put your drink down, stay in well-lit areas, etc.) and less on discouraging perpetrators from committing violence. Although it’s important to be thoughtful of your surroundings, helping potential victims become less susceptible to assault is a very small part of the solution. More needs to be done to change the conversation from focusing on the potential victim’s behavior to the behavior of the offender.


To prevent sexual assault, we need to put our attention on stopping the initiator and holding them accountable instead of blaming the person who has been harmed. Universities can proactively benefit survivors by offering them a safe place to get confidential support and learn about resources, accommodations, and options. It is also crucial that college administrators recognize that survivors deserve to be in charge and decide what happens next in their situation. To systematically address college sexual assault, we must also recognize the complex causes of sexual violence, educate and encourage bystanders to intervene, and provide guidance regarding healthy relationships and consent long before students enter the Red Zone.


 

If you or someone you care about is a survivor of sexual violence, The Friendship Center can help. Check out our services page to learn about our free, confidential, 24/7 services and visit our sexual assault resource page to learn more about options for survivors and find answers to some frequently asked questions.


Additional Resources and Links

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