August 30, 2018

Resource: Blog Industry: Education, Higher Education

Tags: Higher Education, Prevention

50% of Sexual Assaults Take Place at Start of School

Students are back on campus, classes have begun – you can feel the excitement in the air for a new school year. For the most part, first year students are experiencing living away from home and that new-found independence for the first time, while returning students are excited to reunite with friends.

With all of the excitement on campus, it’s a great and resourceful time to remind new and returning students of campus policies and expectations. Conduct issues can quickly arise if students forget the appropriate conduct on campus.

One form of violence to be extra mindful of during this time of year because of its prevalence is sexual assault.

In fact, according to a report by the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 50% of college sexual assaults take place at the beginning of the school year and 70% of victims know the perpetrators.

Campus sexual assault statistics nationwide are alarming:

• 1 in 5 female college students are survivors of sexual assault.
• Only 11% of rapes on campus are reported – the most underreported violent crime.
• 63% of college males admitted to acts that meet the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, also admitted to repeated offenses.
• 4% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation.

Sexual assault is a far-reaching and severe issue across campuses in the United States and is often in the national headlines, whether it’s student-to-student, student-faculty or student-staff. It’s troubling and leaves many campus leaders eager to find solutions to combat it on their own campus.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single and simple solution to end sexual assault on campus, but there are several places to start to reduce sexual assault on your campus.

Helpful Guidelines to Make Your Campus Even Safer

Use these 10 guidelines to reduce sexual assault on your campus – although these might seem like small changes, once students think differently, they begin to act differently.

1. Believe and support sexual assault and rape survivors.
2. Provide on-campus resources and professional staff for those who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Be sure students are aware of these free resources.
3. Implement student, staff and faculty training on affirmative consent, sexual assault awareness, prevention and bystander intervention.
4. Make sure your campus is compliant with the Campus SaVE Act, Title IX, VAWA and the Clery.
5. Promote anti-sexual assault messaging throughout campus communications, such as social media.
6. Avoid and end victim blaming on your campus.
7. Enforce strict disciplinary policies on campus for those guilty of sexual assault.
8. Offer students, faculty and staff a means of reporting sexual assault or rape anonymously – a known deterrent to reporting.
9. Make sure your campus has a designated Title IX officer, and that he or she has the appropriate resources to carry out the position.
10. Organize on-campus events to increase public awareness of sexual assault.

These are just 10 implementations, out of many, to increase awareness of sexual assault on your campus, while also trying to reduce the rates of it.

How SafeColleges Training Can Help

The SafeColleges Training System recently released Interpersonal Violence Prevention Training for Students aimed to change behaviors on your campus by educating students about the dangers associated with interpersonal violence as well as alcohol and drug abuse.

The course establishes emotional connection to learning and enhances the outcome by incorporating real life testimonials from survivors and bystanders throughout the program.

For more information on the SafeColleges Training System and our Interpersonal Violence Prevention Training for Students course, please contact us at 1.800.434.0154 or [email protected]. Free trials are available.

MAKE YOUR CAMPUS EVEN SAFER