One in four women on college campuses are raped within their four years at school. This statistic is startling,
and should draw our attention to the prevalence of the issue of sexual assault. This data was published earlier this week from a poll that surveyed more than 150,000 students at top universities this past spring. It polled female college students about their experiences with sexual assault, which spanned from kissing, to forced sex. The definition in this polling is broad. However, this issue is not petty and needs to be dealt with in a way that is delicate due to the subject matter, but also promotes a change. If there has been an increase in sexual assaults on college campuses over the past years, something is off balance in the way that it has been dealt with.
Obviously the old methods are not working, and new methods need to be implemented in order to decrease the prevalence of sexual assaults on campuses. The problem with the issue of sexual assault is that it is present, and students are aware of the issue at hand, but there is not enough action that is taking place in order to limit the amount of sexual assault present on college campuses. Action needs to be taken in order to surmount to change. A change will not happen when there is only awareness, because awareness is only acknowledging that an issue is present. Awareness is only half the battle. It can lead to someone taking action.
The action needs to be taken soon or else these statistics will only continue to rise. Change needs to be made on all levels starting with how colleges and students deal with the present issue. Colleges and students need to take the known information into account and change the dynamic. Sexual assault should not be this present on college campuses. It not only changes the way people experience college, it can lead to damaged futures. This data cannot just shock the country. It
needs to ignite change with the end goal being reducing the amount of sexual assault present on college campuses around the United States.
Ways action can be taken:
Colleges should create forums and discussions where students can come together and listen to talks about sexual assault on campuses and the impact that they have on members of the community. Stories of sexual assault can be brought to the forefront; all while the identity of the victim remains anonymous. This can impact the student body and put a story to a statistic, thus allowing students to be able to interact with one another and be touched by a reality that is plaguing our generation. It would also provide victims, who are willing, to anonymously share their stories of sexual assault. Depending on the victim, it could provide an outlet for them to release the emotions balled up inside of them. Also, colleges should bring in people from the community who work with sexual assault victims in order to provide information about their services, and open up a line of communication for past and future victims of sexual assault. Just knowing that there is someone out there who would help in a time of crisis relieves anxieties and pressures that students could face if they did not know what options were available to them. By providing a forum to open up discussion on the issue of sexual assault, students are allowed to interact, and are pushed to open up past their level of awareness, and forced to empathize with victims and learn from community members about what options are available to them outside of the realm of school services.
Colleges should also continue to provide their own services that aid students in times of crisis. The on-campus services are a great route to go when you are victimized. Students need to become more aware of the services that colleges provide, as many colleges only verse students on this knowledge during freshman orientation. It is important for students to know that these services are available every year, and that the places and people who work there are safe and open. Many colleges have websites specifically devoted to sexual assault and provide information as to what services are available to you, and what steps you should take if you have been assaulted. It is important for students to know how to find these websites, and know where and what services are available.
We can also take action by knowing that sexual assault can happen to anyone. Every college student, female or male, can be sexually assaulted. It could occur with a stranger, or someone you know well. In society today, we tend to stereotype many sexual assault cases to females who dress a certain way and attract male attention, or to the drunkest girls at a party, but sexual assault can happen to anyone. Although this poll was only given to female college students, sexual assault can happen to males as well. There needs to be more knowledge on this issue, as society tends to paint the picture of sexual assault as a male perpetrator and a female victim. However, this is not always the case. As a society and as college students, there needs to be an awareness that men have similar odds of falling victim to sexual assault. College students need to realize that there are measures you can take to prevent sexual assault. Some ways students can take actions into their own hands is that students can drink less, watch their drink, abide by the buddy system, avoid being alone with people you are not familiar with, and most importantly, trust your instincts. Truth is, you know best. If things do not feel right or you feel pressured, speak up. Make sure that you are heard. If the perpetrator does not stop, find help. Do not be scared about telling the truth. It may be scary and unnerving to disclose this information to someone else, but it is important to find someone that you trust, and share with them.
Sexual assault on college campuses is a rampant problem. It needs to be changed in order for the number of assaults to drop. One in four college women is too many to be sexually assaulted. It does not do justice to the society that we live in or to the lives of the victims. The lives of those affected by sexual assault, whether male or female, are forever altered. This is a sad truth, but it is the truth. The statistics of sexual assault on campuses need to be diminished. We can make changes in order to drop that statistic. In doing so, many lives will be driven down a different path. Think of the impact that can be made if we take action. The ball is now in our court. Lets make a difference.
