by Jennifer Zhang
Jessica Yaffa, president of NoSilence NoViolence (NSNV) had the privilege of presenting a powerful message to students at San Diego State University. “Awareness and education are key to bringing this issue out into the open,” says Jessica. “Support is needed at all levels of administration and to the students to change the trajectory of numbers of survivors increasing on campuses.”
April is Sexual Assault Prevention Month. This marks a dedicated time to amplify the efforts and voices in educating, advocating, and empowering communities against sexual violence. NoSilence NoViolence aims to reduce the incidence, trauma, and stigma of violence by raising awareness and providing various forms of assistance to foster systematic changes.
According to the American Psychological Association, campus sexual assault (CSA) makes up the greatest proportion (43%) of total on-campus crimes in the United States, resulting in approximately eight forcible sex offenses per 10,000 students. The rates, close to 25%, of sexual assault victims are particularly high among first-year female college students, including drug-and-alcohol facilitated sexual assault as well as attempted or completed forcible rape.
As well, different intersectional identities also expose layers of violence on groups of students with diverse sexual orientations, sexual identities, levels of abilities, race and ethnicity, and income levels.
Sexual assaults and violence that happens on campuses have extensive negative mental and physical health consequences for students. Besides the negative influence on academic performance, they increase the odds of lifetime diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression by 2-4 times.
In a research study of 1,152 college men across the nation, 45% of respondents reported that they had not received sexual assault prevention training from their higher educational institutions. This marks an opportunity for critical training and education about sexual assault and violence among institutions including starting this process at the high school and even middle school level.
The lack of education about this issue among incoming college students also results in an overall stigma toward assaults of any kind. Both men and women on college campuses underreport experiences of campus sexual assault — it is estimated that 90% of assaults on campuses are not reported due to barriers such as shame, guilt, embarrassment, confidentiality concerns, and fear of not being believed. Such stigma prevents many survivors from reaching out for supportive services and programs.
How You Can Help
- If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual or any type of assault, please encourage them to report to authorities.
- Understand Sexual Assault: Sexual violence isn’t just one type of behavior; rather, it encompasses a wide spectrum of actions. All college students need to educate themselves on the different types of violence and know their rights and where to go to for support.
- Acknowledge the Impact: Aside from the immediate and obvious consequences, college students who experience sexual assault and harassment can deal with many long-term and less obvious issues following such a traumatic experience.
- Campus Sexual Assault Prevention Strategies: Create defined sexual assault policies; Prioritize student-led initiatives; Initiate sexual assault prevention training; Train bystanders on how to respond; Work with local sexual assault centers.
- Self Precautions: Self-Defense Classes; Let Others Track Your Location; Keep Social Media Accounts Private; Know Your Drinking Limits; talk to friends; form a support group on campus.
- Join NSNV’s Relationship Classes to learn skills and tools to build a healthier connection to friends and partners.
- Helpful Resources/Organizations: RAINN; Not Alone; Stalking Resource Center; SAFER (Students Active for Ending Rape); National Sexual Violence Resource Center, One Safe Place.
It is important to recognize that awareness and action must extend to educational institutions and student communities. Universities and colleges have the potential to offer influential platforms for fostering long-lasting change in the younger generations, encouraging conversations and awareness about campus sexual violence and assaults of any kind.
NoSilence NoViolence is committed to helping survivors of sexual violence, outreaching our support to all students across ages, places, races, and any other backgrounds. By continuing on our education, advocacy, and empowerment to one another, we foster safe and inclusive environments where sexual violence is not tolerated for all.
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