Unreported rapes are detriment to social progress

Submitted by brandonpettey on September 29, 2008 - 5:48pm
Brandon Petty
Monday, September 29th, 2008
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More than 5 percent of college campuses in 2004 reported cases of rape and attempted rape of college women according to the National College Health Assessment. This may seem like an inconsequential number but it does not take into account the number of unreported sexual assaults.

All too often female college students are sexually assaulted and do not report it. Kim Livingston, Wellness and Prevention Counselor, said there are several various reasons a college student may not report a sexual assault.

In some cases of college rape alcohol is a factor. If a student is under the age of 21 there may be a fear of getting in trouble for the drinking. “Students who are raped while drinking will not be arrested, even if they are underage,” Livingston said.

There is also the fear of revenge.

Some women fear that their attacker will come back for them if they report the assault.

Finally, some women are embarrassed after experiencing a sexual assault. There is a fear of having a tarnished reputation because of the assault.

While these concerns are reasonable, reporting sexual assault is the only way to stop the criminal.

If a rape-kit is done evidence can be preserved and then the victim can make the choice of whether to file charges. Getting an examination does not mean you agree to press charges.

At the University, the CARE program offers women the opportunity get an examination on campus, with their privacy kept in tact. They can then decide when and if to file charges.

When a woman is raped she loses control of the situation, it is only when the victim reports it that they can take back control of their lives.

More information about care can be found www.uttyler.edu/wellness/CARE.html.

Comments

First, KUDOS for writing

First, KUDOS for writing about this sadly common experience many college women write off to "just a bad hook-up." Sexual assault is part of a cluster of behaviors disproportunately impacting women - some others being stalking, verbal threats, abusive relationships, unwanted sexual touching, and sexual harassment. Again, thanks for reminding the campus that it is indeed a SOCIETAL FAILURE and we all have a responsibility to ACT to eliminate all of these behaviors from our society. Now a clarification The statistic is not that over 5% of colleges report, but that an average of 5% female college students from all colleges participating in the assesment acknowledge that they have experienced attempted and/or completed sexual assault in that calendar year. Meaning in 5 years, an average of 1 in 4 college women have had this experience. Also, only about 5% of college women report their assault/attempted assault to police.
Submitted by Samantha (not verified) on October 3, 2008 - 11:09pm.

I just happened across this

I just happened across this post looking for something else, but i think you should go check out Ms. Magazine's website that published a recent article of an audit that revealed that there are approximately 400,000 untested rapes kits in the US. Those are reported rapes, there is irrefutable genetic evidence against perpetrators that is available but isnt being investigated. "Reporting the sexual assualt" is NOT what stops the criminal, prosecuting the perpetrator to the full extent of law is what stops the perpetrator from the future crimes he will commit. 2% of convicted rapists actually are serving time, 98% walk free. The article reveals that federal funding of 43 million dollars was appropriated under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program to state crime labs in 2007 to ensure that rape kits were given the proper priority in being processed. This sends a message to society that stopping violence against women is not a priority of the government. Not only that, but violence against women is in fact assisted by the government by a total failure to prosecute those who commit such crimes to the full extent of the law. Why would a victim of rape even bother to come forward and go through the arduous process of putting together a rape kit if it is only going to lay untested, and what incentive would could there possibly be when they are basically being told that their government would not even bother to prosecute the perpetrator of the crime...especially when there is damning DNA evidence to convict him with?
Submitted by Katie (not verified) on March 5, 2009 - 10:15am.

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