August 25, 2024 Aug 25, 2024 8 min read
Staying Safe on Campus: A Student’s Guide to Recognizing Sexual Assault
The rate of sexual assault for college and university students in 2024 is troublingly high. Some sources estimate that as many as 26% of women college students experience some form of sexual assault, along with 23% of trans and gender-nonconforming students.
Shockingly, male college students are twice as likely as non-students to experience sexual assault, according to data from the US National Institute of Justice and RAINN. In Canada, these rates are somewhat lower at 10%, but any amount of sexual assault is too much.
In light of these realities, college students need a strong working definition of sexual assault so they can recognize it when it happens — and hopefully prevent it before it starts.
This guide describes common characteristics of sexual assault and why sexual violence is such a problem on college campuses. We also recommend practical methods for staying safe on campus and reducing the overall risk of campus sexual assault.
Common Characteristics of Sexual Assault
All sexual assault experiences look different, but they tend to share a few common characteristics that can help you recognize when assault has occurred.
1. Lack of consent
Put simply, all sexual acts that happen without the consent of everyone involved can be considered sexual assault. While consent can take different forms, all instances of sexual assault share a common core: At least one person involved did not consent to the experience.
Understanding consent is infamously complicated. The safest way to approach consent is by seeking clear, unambiguous, verbal consent from everyone involved in a sexual experience. Remember that anyone who is incapacitated cannot consent to sex.
2. Coercion
Sexual coercion includes any form of pressure, persuasion, guilt, or manipulation intended to convince someone to participate in a sexual act. Sex that happens as a result of coercion — even if the instigator thinks it’s playful — can be considered sexual assault.
All participants in a sexual experience should feel enthusiastic and confident about their choice to be involved. They should also feel free to revoke or renegotiate their consent at any time.
3. The use of alcohol or drugs to lower inhibitions
Not all sex that happens under the influence of drugs or alcohol is sexual assault — but it’s common for those who commit sexual assault to use drugs and alcohol to lower their victims’ inhibitions.
Especially on college and university campuses, it’s extremely important to be aware of the role drugs and alcohol play, how they influence consent, and how they are sometimes used to facilitate non-consensual experiences.
Perspectives on consent and alcohol vary, but some believe consenting to sex is not possible when someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
4. Use of force
Stereotypes about sexual assault and rape would have us believe that all instances of assault happen as a result of physical force. This is not true, as sexual assault can happen without the presence of any force or violence. However, any sexual act that involves the non-consensual use of force is considered sexual assault.
Many survivors of campus sexual assault struggle to understand whether what they experienced qualifies as rape or assault. The culture we live in tends to question survivor experiences, leading to victim blaming and self-doubt. To help you better understand your experiences, we’ve put together a guide about what qualifies as rape and sexual assault.
5. Violations of trust
Most sexual assault experiences occur between people who know each other. Counter to the outdated belief that rape and sexual assault are almost exclusively committed by strange men in dark alleyways, perpetrators are often trusted friends, family members, fellow students, or even coworkers.
As such, most sexual assault experiences involve a massive violation of trust. The victim may feel confused or betrayed, making it harder to believe and accept what has happened. In some cases, the person who commits the assault may even guilt, intimidate, or manipulate the victim out of speaking up or establishing boundaries.
How Sexual Assault Shows Up on College Campuses
At colleges and universities, students face unique circumstances that may increase the risk of sexual assault. Being aware of these factors can help you better understand the risks and recognize sexual assault if and when it happens to or around you.
Party culture and date rape
According to data from the US Department of Justice, 50% of campus sexual assault happens in the first three months of the school year, with the largest proportion happening on Friday and Saturday nights. This suggests that most campus sexual assault happens in party settings.
Party culture and “Greek” (fraternity/sorority) culture are extremely popular and influential on most college and university campuses. For many students, this means the excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs becomes a commonplace part of the college social experience.
Being aware of the correlation between alcohol/drug use and rape and sexual assault can help you establish systems and methods for keeping yourself and your friends safe during your college experience.
