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Darian Diepholz

PUBH 102

Raper

November 23, 2015

Reaction on Womens Sexual Assault in College

Sexual assault on college campuses has become a large concern across the world.

When girls enter college, each must be warned about statistics and safety for each due to

the increasing number of cases reported each year of sexual assault. A survey by the

Association of American Universities was recently conducted involving over 150,00

students and 27 universities: including almost all Ivy League Schools. The results were

scary showing that 23% of females experienced unwanted sexual contact. The numbers

are even higher for senior females, ranging to 34% of female seniors at the University of

Michigan. From these statistics is it clear that education is important for college females

to be aware on what to do in the event of unwanted sexual attention and the people to

contact or how to stop it from ever happening.

Many factors can be taken into consideration on the chance of a being sexually

assaulted. First is gender, which shows that while men are also assaulted it is evident that

women outweigh men as victims in cases of sexual assault. Additionally is location, the

study was completed with college students because the location is a very easy-targeted

area. With crowding, co-ed housing, and Greek life events, these all allow for women to

become victims and cornered or followed. Plus college revolves around social events that

include alcohol. Alcohol can lead to men becoming overtly aggressive and makes women

largely vulnerable to making wrong decisions or not being able to fight against their
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attacker. All these factors are mentioned and continually harped upon in sexual education

given to most students during an orientation for college and continued in pamphlets

handed out regularly.

The issue with education is that it is not used enough. While the problem is

addressed, the education is lacking. For the high percentage of cases found, the little

education is not enough. The numbers will continue to grow as the number of college

attendees increase. Sexual assault does not only scar the person mentally with Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder, but can also lead to diseases or unwanted pregnancies. All

these risks are major in their own right but grouped together from one event of assault

makes education and prevention necessary. Schools like Harvard spoke of doubling the

staff for the Office of Sexual Assault and Prevention, including an office in charge of

investigating reports of misconduct.

Another controversial issue with sexual assault is the amount of women who do

not report their assault. The survey showed that many women believed their situation was

not serious enough or ashamed and embarrassed. Education is pertinent to inform women

that every case is important no matter how small and if they do not come forward then

many more girls could become victims. As well, with the statistics shown, it is clear that

no girl should feel ashamed as the attention is unwarranted but still happens to many girls

everyday.

Reading the article and the findings of the Association of American Universitys

survey, sexual assault of college women is increasing to unwanted percentage. As

mentioned above this survey only received responses from 150,000 women, which is a

very small amount, compared to the population that attends school. I would have liked to
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hear about more statistics from larger state schools that have less emphasis on high level

grades and acceptance like Ivy Leagues and more on schools with large Greek life and

more. These schools would probably provide even higher rates due to the events that take

place with being in sorority and fraternities that include alcohol and hazing that could

lead to assault.

I believe this rate can decrease with the proper education and continuing

education through college. I do not believe women know all the resources that can be

used when they feel uncomfortable or have experienced assault. As a women in college, I

am not aware of any Sexual Assault offices that are there for when I need help therefore

more marketing needs to be used for every student know where and what the offices can

do to help them like Harvard. As well, pushing for dry campuses or security around

campus can lead to safer environments for girls, as the alcohol circumstances would

decrease and the safety of girls alone at night would increase. In the end, I am astonished

at the number of women sexually assaulted in college and I believe much more can be

done to try and decrease the number of victims.

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Works Cited

Wallace, Kelley. "23% of Women Sexually Assaulted in College." CNN.

Cable News Network, 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

<http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/health/campus-sexual-assault-

new-large-survey/index.html>.