Sexual Assault On College Campuses Essay
Statement of the Problem Sexual assault occurs on every college campus. It does not matter if the institution is public or private, have a higher or small number of students, co-ed or same sex, urban or rural; students can become a victim of sexual assault at any school. Men can be victims of a women rapist or a male rapist. Women can be victims of a female or male rapists. While, sexual assault can happen to anyone. College campuses can be a place that foster sexual assaults. Although sexual assaults involve multiple variables, alcohol being the most common, college students are becoming more and more vulnerable. Aside from high rates of alcohol consumption, social network, lack of parental supervision, sorority and fraternity culture, and athletics are a common thread between sexual assault on college campuses.
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Background and Justification The first time sexual assault was addressed and documented on a college campus was in the 1980’s (Neslon,2010). According to Schawtz & DeKeseredy, prior to the documenting of sexual assault on college campuses, “college was seen as a place where truth and reason prevailed, and women will be safe from the lions who walked the streets” (Nelson, 2010; Pierson, 1999; Schwartz & DeKeseredy, 1997). This was thought to be true because "animals" referred to anyone that wasn't a wealthy, white middle and upper class individuals (Nelson, 2010; Schwartz & DeKeseredy, 1997).
From 1984 to 1988 the first study of rape culture in communities and on college campuses were conducted (Nelson, 2010; Koss, 2005). Subsequently, because of these studies, a small amount of universities began creating sexual assault policies; however, universities didn’t get a real wake-up call until the case of Jeanne Clery, a freshman at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. While asleep in her bedroom Jeanne Clery was badly beaten, raped, and murdered by a fellow student. When Clary's parents went to the university to understand what happened, they discovered that Lehigh University had gotten thirty-eight violent cases of sexual assault in the past three years. As a result of this case, Congress passed the Student's’ Right to Know Act, which required universities release their reports to the general public annually.
Thereafter, the Ramstad Amendment to the Higher Education Act was passed, in 1992.
This bill requires colleges to not only create and publicize the school's sexual assault policy, but must also outline how the university or college handled each sexual assault incident, post-assault procedures, any prevention programs the school have, how students can report assault, and the disciplinary hearing for both the victim and offender. Colleges are also required to tell if they can afford current services and resources for mental health services, and assist students with academic or housing resources after the assault (Nelson,2010; Hall,1995).
Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to explore college students’ beliefs of sexual assault as it pertains to rape myths, specifically focusing on local college campuses in Volusia County. This paper will describe the massive impact rape myths have and how it shapes up college student ideals on what is and what is not sexual assault. This paper will also discuss the role power plays in sexual assault, as well as the high risk population who have a higher chance of becoming
victims.
Background and Justification The first time sexual assault was addressed and documented on a college campus was in the 1980’s (Neslon,2010). According to Schawtz & DeKeseredy, prior to the documenting of sexual assault on college campuses, “college was seen as a place where truth and reason prevailed, and women will be safe from the lions who walked the streets” (Nelson, 2010; Pierson, 1999; Schwartz & DeKeseredy, 1997). This was thought to be true because "animals" referred to anyone that wasn't a wealthy, white middle and upper class individuals (Nelson, 2010; Schwartz & DeKeseredy, 1997).
From 1984 to 1988 the first study of rape culture in communities and on college campuses were conducted (Nelson, 2010; Koss, 2005). Subsequently, because of these studies, a small amount of universities began creating sexual assault policies; however, universities didn’t get a real wake-up call until the case of Jeanne Clery, a freshman at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. While asleep in her bedroom Jeanne Clery was badly beaten, raped, and murdered by a fellow student. When Clary's parents went to the university to understand what happened, they discovered that Lehigh University had gotten thirty-eight violent cases of sexual assault in the past three years. As a result of this case, Congress passed the Student's’ Right to Know Act, which required universities release their reports to the general public annually.
Thereafter, the Ramstad Amendment to the Higher Education Act was passed, in 1992.
This bill requires colleges to not only create and publicize the school's sexual assault policy, but must also outline how the university or college handled each sexual assault incident, post-assault procedures, any prevention programs the school have, how students can report assault, and the disciplinary hearing for both the victim and offender. Colleges are also required to tell if they can afford current services and resources for mental health services, and assist students with academic or housing resources after the assault (Nelson,2010; Hall,1995).
Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to explore college students’ beliefs of sexual assault as it pertains to rape myths, specifically focusing on local college campuses in Volusia County. This paper will describe the massive impact rape myths have and how it shapes up college student ideals on what is and what is not sexual assault. This paper will also discuss the role power plays in sexual assault, as well as the high risk population who have a higher chance of becoming
victims.