As students of the University of Evansville, University of Southern Indiana, Ivy Tech, and Oaklyn City University return to campus, we want to take a moment to shine a light of awareness on a topic that means so much to us.
We at Albion believe through conversations, education, and the understanding an individual is never alone that we can work to help those in crisis and hope to prevent future abuse. In doing so, we would like to provide students and parents with information and statistics that may help in preventing sexual assault on college campuses and raise awareness on how we may help if you or a loved one experiences abuse.
If you are in need of Albion’s crisis response, call 812-422-5622.
Sexual Assault
When we speak of sexual assault, we refer to the various forms of violence that lead to forced and unwanted sexual activity between one partner and another. It may include attempted rape or rape, the manipulation of sexual acts through manipulation, physical or emotional coercion, or even psychological force by way of threats and other intimidation tactics.
According to RAINN (the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), an American is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. Though abuse knows no gender or age, it is reported nine out of every ten victims of rape are female and that the majority of sexual assault victims (some 54%) are between the ages of 18 to 34.
An Overview of Sexual Assault on Campus
Statistics provided by RAINN
- 50%+ college sexual assaults occur in either August, September, October, or November.
- 11.2% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
- Male college-aged students are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault.
- Female college-aged students are 20% less likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of sexual assault.
- 21% of TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) college students have been sexually assaulted.
- Only 20% of female student victims report their assault to law enforcement.
Steps to take after an assault
Sexual assault may take tolls on the victim’s physical or mental health, causing an already hard situation to feel even more scary, overwhelming, or impossible. Ultimately, the steps any person takes after having experienced sexual assault is their decision, but we encourage all victims to seek assistance immediately to receive the proper support and medical care.
Get to a safe place.
The first step after having experienced sexual assault is the most important. Your safety is the most important thing and involves you getting away from your assailant and to a location where you can call for help. This will more than likely be a place where you are not alone and may include your campus health center, a friends dorm room, or nearby family.
Contact authorities and seek medical attention.
To report an incident, call 911 and provide the dispatcher with as much information as you can. This may include the time and place of where your sexual assault occurred, as well as a description of your assailant. Once police have taken your statement, if you are not already at the hospital, we encourage you to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Doctors not only will be able to help collect vital evidence but may also treat injuries or help you in connecting with a sexual assault advocate.
Advocacy.
Albion Fellows Bacon Center provides sexual assault advocates 24/7/365 days a year. While the majority of our advocacy calls are comprised of law enforcement agencies and hospital emergency rooms, we are here for both outside organizations and individuals.
Our advocates are uniquely trained to assess your individual needs and provide you with information that empowers you to determine next steps. They will provide emotional support as well as bring awareness of our internal services and community partners.
Additional information and further resources.
If you have experienced sexual assault, it is important to remember that the responsibility for the attack lies solely with the perpetrator. Below we will list ways you may reduce your risk of becoming a victim, but we encourage and repeat that assault is never the fault of the victim.
Safety Guidelines
Know your limit and watch your drinks.
Intoxication can increase your vulnerability to assault by impairing your judgement or inhibiting your ability to fight physically. It is vital that you never drink a beverage that has been given to you by someone or taken from a public source.
Trust your gut.
Your gut is your best friend and may give you a bad feeling about a location or person. If this happens, we encourage you to leave immediately with someone who you know is safe. If you are alone and feel unsafe, walk in the direction of the nearest crowd, well-lit area, or building.
Stick with your friends.
Attending social gatherings with friends whom you know and trust allows you all to look after one another. If you do go out alone, make sure to tell someone where you are going and avoid walking in unlit or abandoned areas.
Donate today and join us as we work to end the generation cycle of abuse.
Additional Resources
Holly’s House – A non-residential victim advocacy center located in Evansville, IN.
Vanderburgh County Health Department – HIV/STD clinic
RAINN – A free and confidential national sexual assault hotline.