With the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh underway, the media is once again flooded with harrowing stories of sexual assault and exploitation survivors.
The idea that prominent members of society have, or will, commit acts of sexual misconduct has become commonly accepted. A power-hungry individual destroys a woman’s life. Subsequently, they assume their money and influence will aide in the avoidance of punishment or exposure. We are no longer shocked by these headlines.
But, the amount of sexual assault, exploitation and misconduct that occurs on a university campus remains shocking.
According to Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), women between the ages of 18 and 24 are at an elevated risk of sexual violence. Additionally, women between the ages of 18 and 24 who attend college are three times more likely to become victims of sexual assault. RAINN also estimates that 23.1 percent of undergraduate women will experience rape or sexual assault through “physical force, violence or incapacitation.”
Furthermore, the website thehuntinggroundfilm.com, companion website to the film The Hunting Ground, states that “an undergraduate woman has between a 1-in-10 and 1-in-6 chance that she will experience rape or attempted rape while in college.”
As a college student who is a survivor of sexual assault, these statistics are very important to me. I fear that the only major discussions about sexual assault are taking place in Washington D.C. amongst trembling politicians and in Hollywood between guilty film producers. The focus of said discussion should be on college campuses throughout the United States instead. The numbers indicate that this demographic should be a main area of concern.
Coincidently, the Kavanaugh FBI probe is also taking place during a time in the semester that is often referred to as the “Red Zone.”
According to the advocacy website ourbodiesourselves.org, the “Red Zone” is the period between the commencement of classes and Thanksgiving break. During this period, more than 50 percent of on-campus sexual assaults occur.
Highlighting the disgusting culture of sexual violence on college campuses does not take away from the devastation that has been caused by sexual offenders outside of college institutions. From the alleged violence of Brett Kavanaugh to the conviction of Bill Cosby, an ignorant nation is being made aware of a severe issue. We must demand the same amount of exposure, conversation and action from our not-so-ignorant universities.