Cases of sexual misconduct rise based on a new survey conducted at 33 universities in the US.
Increasing cases of sexual misconduct
For the past four years, sexual assault cases at 33 US universities have increased according to a recent survey conducted by the Association of American Universities. But the organization was confident that the increase in cases can be explained by the increased awareness of handling and reporting sexual assaults on campuses. Victims consists of both men and women and student and faculties.
The Association of American Universities released the Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct as a basis for the data concerning sexual misconduct on campuses. The survey was conducted on 181,752 undergraduate and graduate students and found out to have no significant changes in sexual assault cases. However, respondents believe that they are more aware now on how to report such cases, but still, several victims refuse to speak up.
The mentioned figures are taken out from the compiled data of the 33 universities. The participating universities in the AAC survey are planning to release an individual report for their campuses regarding sexual assault cases.
Victims are doubtful to report
Even with the strong campaign of universities to educate students on campus sexual misconduct, only 15% of the students showed interest in attending these university programs. Victims are also doubtful in reporting sexual assault on campuses because of the doubt that they will be believed in. According to some students which are part of the survey, the reason they do not report is due to the feeling that the can handle it on their own or university campaigns do not look serious enough to assist victims.
Sexual incident investigators find it hard to believe victims if there were no traces of physical harm evident in the reporting victim. The scrutiny in having to convince the counselor that a victim underwent harassment makes other victims doubtful to pursue their complaints.
Most of the victims of campus sexual misconduct are in the freshmen pool. Around 16% of the total freshmen surveyed confirmed that they underwent sexual assault on the campus, compared to the 11% of the students who are in their fourth year. Fourth-year students report sexual harassment perpetrators are usually faculty members or instructors taking advantage of their status as graduating students.
AAC president Mary Sue Coleman suggests that institutions should focus their resources during the first year of students. This way, rates of sexual assaults on campuses can surely decline.
