This year has broken records of the past 10 years combined with the highest sexual assault cases. In 2013, 94 cases were reported with the campus security and/or law enforcement agencies. The incidents include the victims of sexual assault, sodomy and rape. Sarah McMahon says that this figure is very small relative to the studies conducted, which revealed that one out of four women is victim of such acts in colleges. The problem is that victims resist reporting such incidents majorly due to disgrace, fear of being expelled and getting into a bigger trouble.
At the beginning of this year, around 55 universities came into light by U.S Department of Education pertaining to sexual attacks and complaints. Some of the common symptoms identified include: leaving home town for college, emotional distress, as well as intake of drugs and alcohol. Rutgers University in New Jersey has registered up to 48,000 students in its new campus located at Brunswick. Around 21 incidents relating to sexual wrongdoings were reported in 2013 in the same campus.
According to statistics from period 2004-2013, Rutgers University has reported the highest sexual offenses in New Jersey, totaling 123 cases. As per this federal data, second in the league is Princeton University with 114 cases. These universities ensured that in future, they will keep better report of such instances. In the earlier phase of this year, President Obama launched a campaign in the White House called, “Changing Campus Culture”, whereby, sexual assault guidance was provided to students.
The way campuses respond to such incidents is mixed. At Rutgers, they stated that every case is reported to the campus authorities and outside, even when victims show reluctance. Drew University in Madison reported a case where the boy sued the university as a result of false allegations by a girl who got involved with him consensually, later accusing the boy of rape charges in order to save herself.
Vice chancellor of student affairs, Felicia McGrinty, concluded that a liberated environment must be created where students can freely discuss and report such incidents so that corrective measures can be taken against the culprits.
