Recently, there has been a significant amount of media attention surrounding sexual assault on college campuses; specifically, Vice President Biden gave a speech highlighting how assaults often go unreported and how university administrations can fail to take the necessary steps to prevent sexually hostile environments. City Councilor At- Large Ayanna Pressley recently revealed her experience as a rape victim at Boston University and will be holding hearings soon to better understand the issue of sexual assault on college campuses.
At Girls’ LEAP the teens and college women often share stories about how sexually harassing behaviors are normalized and young women are encouraged to think of them as “no big deal.”
Since the violence against women act was passed in 1994 we have seen a tremendous shift in the social attitude and response to hidden sexual violence. While this has been good overall, there is still an aura of secrecy and shame that surrounds most incidents of sexual assault. However, the reality is that talking about sexual assault is one of the most important steps to prevention.
Many victims are fearful of reporting assaults for a variety of reasons, and especially assaults that occur on college campuses where the victim may know and interact with the perpetrator frequently. Unfortunately, it is this silence that allows crimes of sexual violence to be perpetuated. Every time a perpetrator gets away with an assault, it makes it a little bit easier for them and others to get away with additional acts of violence. As parents, policy makers, youth workers, administrators and members of a community, we must make it easier for survivors to speak up in order to prevent this trend from continuing.
As Boston City Councilor stated-
“Mine is a truth shared by 17.7 million American women.
And, like 90 percent of rape survivors, I knew my attacker.’’
And, like 90 percent of rape survivors, I knew my attacker.’’
“I’m not demonizing or vilifying colleges and universities,’’ Pressley said yesterday. “If anything, this is an opportunity for colleges and universities to set the national standard and improve their brand.’’
Today, an astounding 1 in 4 women experience sexual assault during their college careers.
The Obama administration has released a report telling colleges and universities that they need to do a better job preventing and investigating sexual violence in response to a Title IX complaint filed by 16 Yale University students and alumni that claimed the campus was a sexually hostile environment. An investigation is currently taking place.In a recent CNN special, author and Director of the Women’s Center at Bryant University claims that, “because of the way universities handle sexual misconduct, it is often the victim who drops out of school. In fact, a survey I conducted of female students transferring into Brown University in the early 1990s revealed that:
one of the top reasons women may transfer colleges is because they've been sexually assaulted on their campus.”
According to Councilor Pressley,
“This is a crime of silence…in general, it is a crime that is underreported because of the shame, because of the stigma, but also because there isn’t a belief that there will be consequences, especially on a college campus where there is often contact with the attacker.’’
Sexual assault survivors can experience an array of emotions and side effects that might deter them from reporting an assault. Some common reactions include: guilt, fear, avoidance, mood swings, anger, distrust, loss of control, numbness, and/or re-experiencing their assault.
In the midst of experiencing any of these reactions, action steps can seem intimidating or burdensome. However, it is important that everyone have the tools to take care of themselves and prevent further sexual violence.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, here are the steps you can take to receive support and what to expect :
Hospital Care: (Information provided by Boston Area Rape Crisis Center- barcc.org)
- You can be examined and cared for at an emergency room. The sooner you get to the hospital after an assault, the greater your options will be.
- Preventative treatments for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are more effective.
- Evidence collection is an option. You do not need to report to the police to have evidence collected but, if you do have evidence collected, you may have more options in the future.
- Toxicology testing is available within the first 96 hours after an assault. Ask for a toxicology kit during your hospital visit if you think you might have been drugged.
- Try not to bathe, shower, brush your teeth, or go to the bathroom. This is important for preserving evidence. If you already have, it is still possible to collect evidence.
- If possible, do not change your clothes. If you already have, put your clothes in a clean paper bag, such as a grocery store bag, and bring them with you to the emergency room.
Tell an advocate:
Often times the reactions experienced after an assault may inhibit a survivors ability to think clearly and act decisively. If you are a survivor and are overwhelmed, tell a trusted advocate about the assault. They can help you.
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC)is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sexual violence through healing and social change. BARCC is an excellent resource for survivors as well as friends and family members.
BARCC has specially trained medical advocates available to help you. Immediately following an assault you may face many emotional, medical, and legal decisions. Advocates can:
- Meet you at the hospital emergency room and stay with you during your visit.
- Provide information to help you make the best possible decisions for your situation.
- Advocate for your needs with the hospital staff.
- Talk with your family or friends about how to best support you.
- Help you find a safe place to go when you leave the hospital and figure out your next steps.
Disclaimer: it is best for survivors to repeat their story as little as possible. If you decide to tell an advocate before filing a police report, give as little detail as possible by stating that you have been assaulted and that you need help.
File a Police Report:
If you decide to file a report, you should go to the police department in the city/town where the incident occurred. In Massachusetts, you have fifteen years from the date of the sexual assault to file a police report. If the assault happened when you were under 18, you have 27 years since the incident to file the report. There are exceptions to these limits. In Massachusetts, many laws protect the privacy of sexual assault survivors. For example, all police reports related to sexual violence are strictly confidential. In cases of rape and attempted rape, the survivor’s name is kept private, including being blacked-out in written records. A survivor may also request that information like an address, telephone number, place of employment, or school be kept private. It’s best to make this request as early as possible. Click here for a list of resources in your town (provided by BARCC).
Report it to your school’s security office or administration:
Schools may have varying policies and procedures regarding sexual assault follow-up. If you are concerned about the action steps your school takes, visit your campus security website or call an administrator who can give you the correct information.
ALL Colleges and Universities must follow certain steps required by Title IX including:
- Institution must have a sexual harassment policy
- School officer or administrator must discuss with the survivor options for formal and informal action.
- Institution should make every effort to keep the names of the parties involved confidential
Seek Counseling(Information provided by barcc.org)
BARCC (Boston Area Rape Crisis Center) Hotline: 24-hour hotline: 800.841.8371
- Support you anytime in the healing process.
- Help you understand your options.
- Get you access to services at BARCC and in your community.
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