Preventing Sexual Violence on College Campuses: Risks and Solutions
- Diep
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
What is the current problem?
One of the key areas in which women’s rights are violated is when a sexual assault occurs
on a college campus. College administrators have identified a period of time -- the “Red Zone”--
in which sexual assaults including rape are statistically likely to occur; this period covers the first days of the fall semester through Thanksgiving. According to USA Today, “Research has
revealed this is when 50% of sexual assaults on campuses occur. Perpetrators go after college
freshmen or incoming transfer students as they adjust to college life and partying”. Authorities
offer different explanations as to why this is so, and some have even questioned the use of this
concept, fearing that it might cause students to unduly relax their vigilance after the Red Zone is
over. After all, assaults occur throughout the year and at appalling levels as given the statistics
that “Out of all college students, 13% are raped or sexually assaulted by physical force, violence
or incapacitation”.
What factors contribute to the increased risk of sexual assaults towards women?
One theory explaining the statistical imbalance is that the first weeks of campus life are a
time of adjustment: students are making new friends, discovering the physical layout of the
campus, and often are enjoying the freedom that comes from being away from parents,
guardians, or other “gatekeepers” who act as auxiliary protectors or as a safety system. A big
factor involved in sexual assaults on campus is alcohol. According to a study conducted at Johns
Hopkins, “nearly 80% of the female victims of sexual assault have consumed alcohol before the
assault”. This does not mean that these women are responsible for what happened; more
importantly, sexual assaults do occur when the victim has not consumed alcohol. Many students
entering college are drinking alcohol for the first time in their lives; they do not know their
tolerance levels or the effects that alcohol will have on them, including their physical
coordination and relaxation of social inhibitions. Overwhelmed with so much new information,
some students may let their guard down. Importantly, social circles are still in the process of
formation, which may make it difficult for new friends to identify what an individual’s moral
standards might be.
What is the main cause behind the sexual assaults?
The main argument against stressing the importance of the “Red Zone” concept is that it
may create the false impression that once the time has passed, the risk of sexual assault is
negligible. It is not negligible. Another criticism of over-stressing the “Red Zone” is that it
implicitly accepts the consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus and by minors; college
campuses already have policies in place banning the consumption of alcohol and other drugs on
campus, so why not attack this issue? Studies confirm that alcohol is involved in the majority of
sexual assaults on campus. Given the size and social organizations characteristic of many
campuses, the restriction of alcohol, in itself, will probably have little effectiveness in reducing
the number of assaults occurring on or near campus.
Why is education and awareness important in preventing sexual violence on campus?
Education regarding the reality of sexual violence directed against women is necessary,
as the Amnesty International believes that “Women should be able to live without fear of gender-
based violence, including rape and other sexual violence”. Also USA Today cites education and
awareness as key factors in preventing such violence. Universities have found that education can
teach students how “they can normalize conversations about consensual and non-consensual sexual activity among their peers, which is the most effective form of sexual violence mitigation”.
These educational requirements should continue and should be offered on all college and
university campuses. It would not be amiss to require some form of awareness/prevention at the
high school level.
How can the campus change its physical layout to prevent violence?
A more critical factor in preventing sexual violence could be the physical layout of the
campus itself. Factors such as lighting, the availability of tram service after dark, and the
availability of spaces for socializing that are semi-public would help–why go back to
somebody’s dorm room when there is a space for talking deep into the night readily available? In
any event, sexual violence must be confronted and appropriately punished.
Sources:
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