Campus sexual assault is prevalent

- 11.2% of all college students will experience sexual assault

- 23.1% of female undergrad students and 5.4% of male undergrad students will become victims of sexual assault

- 21% of transgender, genderqueer, and noncomforming college students will be victimized by sexual assault

- Over half of all campus sexual assaults occur in the first semester

- Students who are in their freshman year are the most vulnerable

Source: RAINN

Campus sexual assault is not often a stranger crime

Unfortunately most people are not aware of the fact that sexual assault is often committed by someone known- often intimately to the victim. The typical layperson conceives rape as a stranger crime- one in which a deranged person leaps out from the bushes and forces himself on an unsuspecting victim. While this scenario can and does occur- reality is often a different scenario. Sadly, most victims know, even trust their rapist. The rapist is typically an acquaintance, a classmate, a friend, or even an intimate partner. Remember that rape is sex without consent. You cannot give consent if you are asleep or under the influence. Rapists can use physical force, threats of force, psychological coercion, or alcohol or drugs to take advantage of a victim.

Alcohol is often used as a weapon

Alcohol is involved in approximately half of all campus sexual assaults, and is involved in 90% of rapes in which the victim and perpetrator were acquainted. Alcohol is used as a weapon. Rapists will often try to use alcohol to render their victims helpless. If a victim is inebriated, it will likely negatively impact the ability to fight back, and may even impair memory. Further, alcohol can help to lower a perpetrator's inhibitions. The rapist feels emboldened by the alcohol and is likely to act more aggressively towards others. Beware of people who pressure you to drink or encourage you to drink more when you do not want to.Never- and I cannot stress this enough- accept a drink from anybody. Never leave your drink unattended. Never drink from a punchbowl, which could have been contaminated with strong liquor or date rape drugs. Always bring a non-drinking friend who you trust with you when you go out. Don't ever let anyone tell you that if you were drinking when you were sexually assaulted that it was your fault. It wasn't. You cannot give consent when you are intoxicated so the only person who is at fault is the rapist.

If you are sexually assaulted

First of all, your body and your location has just become a crime scene. You want to preserve as much physical evidence as you can until the police arrive. Leave everything as is. As soon as you feel it is safe enough to do so, call 911. Listen to everything the dispatcher tells you. Do not change your clothes or try to clean up. Avoid using the bathroom, washing your hands, brushing your teeth, rinsing out your mouth with anything, douching, or showering. Doing so can destroy evidence of the assault. When you go to the hospital, the nurses will take swabs from your body that can be used as evidence. Know that you have rights and that this was not your fault. Do not let anyone try to blame you. Title Nine (IX) is a federal law that protects students from gender-based discrimination and violence. Under this law, you have rights that your college or university must abide by no matter what your gender identity. Your learning institution can issue a "no-contact directive" (which is basically a restraining order) to make sure the person who assaulted you does not contact you. Your campus can also ensure that you and your assailant will not run into each other in common areas such as the library, classrooms, etc. You have the right to continue your education. You have the right not to be discriminated against. You have the right to feel safe on your college campus. Finally, know that you are not alone.

Resources

- Your campus or campus police department has a victim services unit or a victim advocate (doing a quick Google search turns up the links to their websites)

- RAINN has a free, confidential, national 24/7 hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (you can also use the online chat option)

- RAINN also has a database that helps you find local resources, near you

- 1 in 6 has a free, confidential, 24/7 online chat for male sexual assault victims

- Find a friend, family member, or even a faculty member who you can trust to share your experience with and who will support you