Sexual Assault On College Campuses Essay

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According to a White House task force report, “One in five women is sexually assaulted in college” (qtd. in Goldberg 13). That means that every college student is acquainted with a person who has been or will be sexually assaulted. In contrast, Fisher asserts that “eighty-three percent of sexual assaults go unreported to college officials” (qtd. in Neidig 180). The only way colleges can determine the extent of sexual assault on their campus is by receiving reports from victims of assault. Unfortunately, victims of sexual assault on college campuses seldom report their ordeal to campus administrators due to various reasons. Sexual assault on college campuses is underreported because victims do not know the meaning of sexual assault, they are …show more content…
The only way a college can determine the extent of sexual assault on its campus is by receiving reports by victims. But, victims are reluctant to report their assault to their college authorities. There are a number of reasons that discourage victims from reporting sexual assaults. Colleges need to understand and acknowledge these reasons, in order to encourage reporting on their campus. When victims do not know the meaning of sexual assault, they do not comprehend that they have been assaulted. In turn, they do not report the campus because they have no reason to. Victims also do not report because they do not have much faith in the way their college will handle the report. The school drug and alcohol policy intended to protect underage students is actually preventing minor victims of assault from reporting. It is important for colleges to acknowledge and understand the reasons why victims are reluctant to report sexual assaults. After doing so, colleges need to encourage reporting. This is so crucial because receiving reports is the only way colleges can comprehend the level of prevalence of sexual assault on their college campus. It is, therefore, important for colleges to understand the causes of underreporting of sexual assault in order to encourage

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