Sexual assault at Mr. Jefferson's University

Via U.Va's most recent journalistic endeavor, the Virginia Sentinel:

The number of sexual assaults is much lower than the top two crimes on UVa’s campus, only 12 in 2006, but police and assault counselors said such assaults are underreported.

Police reports show that sexual assaults decreased from 34 in 2005.

“One [sexual assault] is too many to have happen, but that’s not the reality,” UVa Lt. Melissa Fielding said.

Claire Kaplan, director of Sexual and Domestic Violence Services at the UVa Women’s Center, noted the decrease in last year’s number was random and that it varies each year.

Her office records of assaults totaled 58 in 2005. The number differs from police records because the Women’s Center includes emotional abuse and stalking.

“I wish there was a pattern,” she said, “but there isn’t one.”

The number of reports depends on whether sexual assault is the “issue du jour,” Kaplan added.

...............

UVa’s number of sexual assaults in 2006 was higher than VCU, JMU and the University of Richmond. VCU had five reported assaults last year and JMU and the University of Richmond had six each, as reported on the universities’ Web sites. ODU had 16 assaults in 2006. Since 2004, ODU reported more than 19 assaults each year.

Even with greater public awareness and support of the victims of sexual assault and rape, it remains one of the most unreported crimes in the United States.  I'm certain that the statistics on sexual assault are far from complete on college campuses; shame, confusion, social pressure and feelings of personal blame all serve to press women into not reporting sexual assaults.

It also doesn't help that there are still plenty of people who are more than willing to blame the victim.  The Cavalier Daily's own exercised her woman-blaming muscles earlier this spring:

And yet, women, at least in part, go to parties and wear revealing clothing for male attention. Whether they'll admit it or not, partying with male friends, having a man buy you a drink, and even occasionally going home with a cute pursuer sums up the after-hour goals of many collegiate females. Even the creepy guys add some flavor to the evening and make for a good laugh in the morning. Granted, girls will not go out without their girlfriends, but if partying consisted of "girls' night" every single night, there would be far less incentive for it. By the same token, when men party they are in search of female attention, and, probably to a greater extent, in search of sex. An all-male party is derided in colloquial language as a "sausage fest," referring to the overabundance of male genitalia. This is basically the dating scene and it is not always so innocent.

If women plan to do something about sexual violence, it cannot solely be through an emotionally healing confession hour. There must be collective, concerted action to tone down our sexualized culture by behaving more moderately and dressing more modestly.

As Amanda Marcotte notes though, women are targeted because they are women; no more, no less:

The myth I struggle against is that women can do something definitive to protect themselves, that there’s some sort of “good girl” ideal—feminist or patriarchal—that can prevent rape or domestic violence or other assaults upon your dignity. The abuse aimed at women comes because they are women and it is womanhood that’s hated, not specific manifestations of it, whether they are the good girl manifestation or the good feminist one.

The only real way to reduce sexual assault and rape on Grounds is through awareness, education and empowerment.  U.Va's Office of Residence Life has done a fair job of making students - particularly first-years - aware of sexual assault and what constitutes sexual assault.  Every member of Residence Staff at the University receives limited training in dealing with sexual assault and has the option of taking a seminar on working with victims of sexual assault.

Feminist organizations (and their allies) on Grounds have also done a good job of educating and spreading awareness.  FIFE or "Feminism is For Everyone" co-sponsors Take Back the Night, a vigil dedicated to the victims of sexual assault.  While 1 in 4 - a fraternity-based group - gives anti-sexual assault presentations to first-year students, as well as fraternities and other organizations*.

Regardless, the recent statistics ought to further motivate students to make the University a place where sexual assault is rare, and victims of sexual assault are accepted and affirmed.

 

*I arrange a 1 in 4 presentation for my residents and especially encourage them to attend TBTN, it's an event that more people should experience.