April is sexual assault awareness month

Every two minutes, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted, yet it is arguably one of the most underreported violent crimes in America. More than half are never reported to authorities.

Victims may feel uncomfortable coming forward for a myriad of reasons, including but not limited to perceptions of social stigma, a lack of awareness about support services or fear of backlash from offenders.

College students are considered an at-risk population for sexual assault, defined by the United States Department of Justice as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.”

It is estimated that nearly one in four female students will experience sexual assault in their college career. Studies by the Department of Justice find that fewer than 3% of college women become victims of rape in a given 9-month academic year.

This translates to 35 for every 1,000 women students. Additionally, more than half of raped college women remain silent about the attack.

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Across the country, events to decrease sexual violence through preventative education efforts are being hosted by community organizations and campus health promotions teams.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Act, institutes of higher education that receive federal funding must disclose information about crime, including sexual assault, that happen in and around campus.

Annual reports are often available through campus police departments. The law is named in memory of a 19-year-old freshman that was raped and murdered in her dormitory in 1986.

And for victims wary about unwanted attention, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, schools cannot release identifying information.

Ways to reduce risks:

• Limit alcohol consumption. Nearly half of sexual assaults among college students are associated with alcohol use.
• Let friends or roommates know where you’ll be and when you’ll be home.
• Be wary of the company you keep. Sexual assault cases more likely involve acquaintances than strangers.

Holly Pablo is Spring 2012 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.