A survey done by the Association of American Universities found that 1 in every 5 female college students reported that they experienced some sort of sexual assault.
Unfortunately, more than half of raped college women tell no one of their victimization (Gray). In 2012, a study done by Robin Hattersley Gray claims that 1 in 3 sexual assaults, the perpetrator was intoxicated. Many victims often feel embarrassed of being assaulted or scared to come out to the public about their experience. To be clear, sexual assault describes the full range of forced sexual acts from touching and kissing to sexual intercourse. Sexual assault on campuses is becoming a bigger issue than it has been in the past and more importantly, …show more content…
First off, “consent is comprised of words or actions that show a knowing, active and voluntary agreement to engage in mutually agreed upon activity” (Sex). Clear consent should be required for all sexual contact. Therefore, one is unable to give consent when under the influence. In order to prevent sexual assault on campus, students and faculty members should be well educated on the topic. One common mistaken belief nowadays is that sexual assault is strictly rape; but, it can consist of kissing or even touching inappropriately. Another important piece of information is that sexual assault usually occurs by someone the victim knows. It has been shown that men sometimes see a women’s friendly behavior as a sign of sexual interest or consent. In order for this misconception to go away, students need to be educated on clear consent and the different types of sexual assault. Many students do not grow up in a household where this information is talked about openly. In response to such high rates of assault, all universities should require students to take a course on sexual assault and the effects it has on an individual. Universities should make the courses relatable and interesting to students by using peers, greek organizations, and athletic teams to demonstrate the importance of understanding sexual assault. “Students are motivated by their peers’ beliefs” (Abbey 127). Instead of hearing it from an adult, students may be more apt to listen and relate to their