Staying Safe on College Campuses

College can be a great experience and learning opportunity for students. There are always many activities on campuses and plenty of studying to be done at the library. Nobody would think that 25% of women that go to U.S. college campuses are sexually assaulted during their time on campus (Koss, Gidycz & Wisniewski, 1987). Through the decades there have been many approaches to spread awareness about sexual assault on college campuses. However, not all schools have the funding to acquire proper professionals and services for victims. Some of these approaches include health services, counseling services, prevention programs, consciousness-raising programs, law enforcement responses, and target hardening strategies.

                                    Health services on college campuses usually offer prevention and responsive treatment for basic healthcare needs. Clinics may provide vaccinations, sexual health resources, birth control, condoms, or emergency contraceptives. They also provide information regarding sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Students who do not receive information regarding sexual health are more likely to have psychological and physical health distress later in life. Efforts can also have detrimental effects mid-1970s feelings of powerlessness, shame, and guilt if care is insufficient. A total of 71.6% of college campuses in Texas reports having an on-campus health clinic for students to receive care. However, only 20% have a 24-hour nurse’s line available for students to access a care provider at any time. The majority of campuses have women’s wellness exams, but only 15% have an active OBGYN associate.

                                    Victims of sexual assault should always have access to counseling service on campuses. Sometimes when an assault happens, the victim is in need of validation and support. There is an importance for students to be believed and not blamed for their experiences. Among 74 college campuses in Texas, 81% of them reported having counseling services for relationships and sexual health issues. However, only 15% had a women’s resource center, and only one offered a men’s resource center. Not many of the schools had to offer a rape crisis or victim advocacy center anywhere on campus. Only 16% had a 24-hour hotline for crisis intervention. There is a need to provide mental health options for students who are suffering from sexual assault or trauma. Early intervention can help decrease the likelihood of developing post-trauma symptoms later.

Prevention programs play a significant role in helping society change the perspective on sexual assault. Only 15 campuses provided bystander intervention programs, even though prevention programs have demonstrated success at behavior change for perpetrators. If bystanders are educated on the matters of sexual assault, then they are more likely to enhance victim reporting and aid in mental health recovery for individuals. Having empathetic responses can help a victim cope with trauma symptoms. Nearly 75% of Texas campuses offered alcohol prevention programs and events covering the issues of over-consumption. Nineteen percent of colleges do not offer any kind of sexual assault prevention programs.

 Another way to fight against sexual assault on college campuses is consciousness raising programs. Some examples of these would be “Take Back the Night” marches, “Denim Day” sponsorships, the “Clothesline Project” and recognizing Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness months. Ever since the start of “Take Back the Night” marches back in the mid 1970s, they have been celebrated on college campuses across the United States. Even though survivors unite during these community events on campuses, there are still small numbers being represented. About 26% of the 74 campuses host “Take Back the Night” marches, 18% participate in “Denim Day”, and 27% are involved with the “Clothesline Projects.” There are other ways to raise awareness which could include fundraisers, art exhibits, and presentations.

                                    Typically, if a student were to report a sexual assault on campus, they would go to law enforcement. Every college campus has an independent police department. Victims are more likely to report sexual assault if they have been trained through prevention programs. According to conservative estimates, only 8% of sexual assaults end up being reported to the police (Bohmer & Parrot, 1993). The Uniform Crime Report for all 74 Texas campuses reported that in 2011, 56.8% had zero forcible assaults happen and only 45 forcible assaults had taken place. These findings suggest that students are being victimized and that further attempts to stop sexual assault are necessary.

                                    By recognizing that sexual assault is more likely to happen when the perpetrator is closely acquainted to the victim, (Brecklin, 2008), we can focus on effective ways to strategize for safety plans. Research has shown that assertiveness training and self-defense classes can help with prevention. Other strategies such as providing men’s programs and bystander interventions can also help. Of the 74 Texas college campuses, 95% offer safe walk escort services. These programs assist students who are in need of safety when walking around the areas of campus. Target-hardening approaches are not likely to have much of an impact against sexual assault without the help of other programs and counseling services.

                                    When dealing with the issues that come with sexual to on college campuses, there are still areas that need improvement. Studies have found that physicians and law enforcement officers offer insufficient disclosure for many cases and can be damaging to a victim’s mental health. If college campuses could offer more professional support for survivors, that could help with reducing some of the adverse effects that come with sexual assault. A holistic approach to responding in sexual assault situations could improve the effectiveness of services for victims. These methods include positive, victim-centered responses from service providers. This would assist in the recovery from trauma symptoms and other disorders including anxiety and depression. Students need to have a safe and supportive environment in order to successfully accomplish their education.

Ashworth, L., Viada, J. H., & Franklin, C. (2015). Campus Sexual Assault: Prevention,                 Response, and Aftercare. Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, 7(3), 245-252.

Brecklin, L.R. (2008). Evaluation outcomes of self-defense training for women: A review.            Aggression and Violent Behavior, 13, 60-76.

Koss, M.P., Gidycz, C.A. & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The scope of rape: Incidence and prevalence of sexual aggression and victimization in a national sample of higher education students.      Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 554, 162-170.

Written by Kristin G., Intern