Sexual assault has been a major issue throughout history; it is important to recognize that even though sexual assault is seen as a crime, it is often underreported because of the fear that the victim would not be taken seriously — the idea that they could be misremembering things, or the fear that they would be seen or treated differently if they were outspoken about their experience. With that in mind, think about how much higher the statistics for this issue would be if every case got reported and treated with the care and attention it deserved. The statistics for sexual assault in college women show that one in four have experienced sexual assault, and for men it is one in 16. Every 68 seconds in America, an individual is assaulted.
The Inkwell had the privilege of meeting with Ariah Lewis — coordinator of Student Wellness and Health Promotion from the Wellness Center on campus — to dive deeper into finding ways to spread awareness surrounding this issue and to help those going through these traumatic events.
According to Lewis, “it is really important for this campus, including students, faculty, and staff, to raise awareness for sexual assault awareness and prevention on this campus, because sexual assault violence is a very prevalent issue across all U.S. college campuses.”
She stated that while being at college, your chances of being involved in sexual misdemeanor, assault, etc., increase rapidly compared to those not at college. There are many factors contributing to why this could be. First, being in an unknown environment, especially during your first year of college, and not having deep relationships with anyone who would intervene if they did see suspicious activity.
Another reason, which is more widely known and applied, are alcohol and drugs. Even if you just have one drink and you think you’re being careful, being spiked is very common, so it is always important to watch out for your own drink and your friends. The bystander effect is no joke, especially on college campuses; most of the time when sexual assault occurs on a college campus, the perpetrator is usually someone the victim knows. Therefore, the victims’ friends would be more comfortable leaving them alone, even if they’re not completely comfortable with it.
Some ways that we as students can advocate and help students involved in situations like these are first by listening attentively, being patient, not asking too many questions at once, and most importantly, believing the story they have to share. Triggers are common among those who have been through this; therefore, it is important to recognize ways that these triggers can be handled when they can’t be avoided. It is important, in these moments, to let the person you care about know that they are safe, carry on a conversation to create a healthy distraction, and make them feel seen and valued, and pay attention to what they are saying with care. Every story that is told about sexual assault deserves to be listened to, acted on and taken seriously.
