The U.S. Justice Department estimates that nearly one in five college women will experience rape or attempted rape before she graduates. A 2010 investigation by The Center for Public Integrity found that in addition to experiencing high rates of sexual violence, many students must also contend with campus policies that discourage reporting and often fail to hold offenders accountable.
As they prepare for the fall semester, some students and parents have concerns about staying safe while on campus. Many well-meaning pieces of advice -- do not drink too much or leave a drink unattended at parties, do not walk alone on campus, do not go to a secluded place with someone you do not know well -- imply that sexual violence is an unavoidable consequence of the victim's "bad" choices. While it may be possible for students to avoid situations that could put them at an increased risk of experiencing sexual violence, it is important to remember that no one is responsible for their own assault.
Approximately 90% of sexual assault victims know their offenders prior to the assault, and, in many cases, the assault occurs in a "safe" space such as a dorm room or an apartment. Teaching students risk reduction strategies, such as limiting their alcohol consumption or walking in groups, will not end sexual assault on college campuses. Focusing on the primary prevention of sexual violence -- examining the underlying attitudes, beliefs, and social norms which make sexual violence possible in our communities -- removes the blame for sexual violence from the victim and, instead, holds the perpetrators of such violence accountable for their behaviors.
Students have the right to be safe no matter how much they have had to drink, who they are with, or where they are. While it is important to provide students with information about how to keep themselves safe, perpetrators of sexual violence must also be held accountable for their actions. Sexual violence is a community issue; therefore, communities must work together to address all forms of sexual violence. If a woman at a party on campus is intoxicated, it becomes the responsibility of everyone else at the party to intervene when they see the possibility of her safety being compromised, much like taking keys from someone who is about to drive drunk.
It is important to talk to students about risk reduction strategies, but this should not be confused with the prevention of sexual violence. While risk reduction focuses on the behavior of potential victims, prevention focuses on the behavior of potential offenders and bystanders. Prevention involves educating students about how to ask for and receive consent before initiating sexual contact. It requires all students to be aware of what is going on around them and to feel empowered to speak up and intervene when their peers exhibit offending behaviors.
Everyone has a role to play in preventing sexual violence in our communities, but when an assault does occur, there are sources of support for victims. There are nine sexual assault crisis programs throughout the state of Connecticut that offer free, confidential counseling and advocacy to anyone who has experienced sexual violence. Students can also seek support from their Women's Center, Student Health Services, or, when available, Sexual Assault Campus Advocates.
The College Consortium Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is a coalition of representatives from Connecticut colleges and universities who work together with CONNSACS to improve the response to and prevention of sexual violence on college campuses. CCASA provides a forum for campus faculty, administrators, and students to address the issues of sexual assault and other forms of violence on college and university campuses. It also allows campus representatives to share information, strategies, ideas, and resources in order to strengthen and support each institution’s work to end sexual violence.
Several members of the Consortium recently received a Campus Grant from the Office on Violence Against Women. The grant encourages colleges and universities to work with nonprofit advocacy organizations and law enforcement “to adopt comprehensive, coordinated responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.” Southern Connecticut State University is leading eight other campuses – including Central, Eastern, Western, Trinity College, University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, and Quinnipiac – in collaboration with CONNSACS and the Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Over the course of the three-year grant, these partners will strengthen the collegiate response to sexual violence by focusing on education and training, judicial policy, criminal justice response, and developing Sexual Assault Response Teams.
For more information about the College Consortium or the Campus Grant, please contact Beth Hamilton, Prevention and Training Coordinator (bethany@connsacs.org).
