Sex Abuse Victims on College Campuses

Seven years have passed since the California State Auditor released its report on sexual violence and harassment in California college universities and colleges. The report concluded that California college campuses must do better to safeguard their students against sexual abuse and implement a more efficient system for responding to and resolving sexual abuse incidents.

The audit also recommended that campuses should establish regular training for employees and students and take the necessary steps to ensure that they know about the university practices and policies regarding sexual abuse. But sexual abuse on college campuses is still happening.

A UCLA report shows that over two recent years, sexual abuse allegations almost doubled. Also, a UC Berkeley report shows that there were 85 reported incidents of sexual abuse in one year and 71 reported incidents only two years later. And just this September, USC received five to seven reports of possible sexual assault and drugging at a fraternity.

College Women are Most Vulnerable to Sexual Abuse

Colleges must make certain that not one student or employee is being raped or sexually abused, in any way, in the first place. But college sexual abuse is still very much pervasive, according to these glaring statistics from The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN):

• Women aged between 18 and 24 in college campuses have an increased risk of experiencing sexual abuse, whether they’re students or not.
• Sexual abuse is the most prevalent crime in colleges and universities.
• 1% of transgender, non-conforming, and genderqueer college students have been sexually abused.
• Men in college between ages 18 and 24 have a 78% risk of getting sexually abused than non-students in the same age group.
• 4% of undergraduate females and 6.8% undergraduate males experience sexual assault or rape through incapacitation, violence, or physical force.
• 7% of professional and graduate female students and 2.5% of professional and graduate male students experience sexual assault or rape through incapacitation, violence, or physical force.
• 8% of college students have experienced stalking on college campuses.
• Students have an elevated risk of experiencing sexual abuse during the first months of the first and second college semesters.
• Only 20% of female students aged between 18 and 24 report sexual abuse incidents to law enforcement.
• More than 50% of sexual abuse on college campuses takes place from August to November.

Seek Legal Help from an Experienced Santa Barbara Sexual Abuse Attorney Now

After being sexually abused, it is difficult to know how you should react. You might be emotionally drained, physically hurt, and generally uncertain of what you should do next. But what you need to remember above all else is that what happened to you was never your fault. Someone did something to you that you did not want to happen, and that is never okay.

If you have been sexually abused in California, you can count on the experienced sexual abuse attorneys of Bamieh & De Smeth for compassionate legal assistance. You can get in touch with us by calling 805-643-5555 or sending us an online message to arrange your free case consultation with our California sexual abuse attorney.