Almost 20 percent of female students will experience rape or a sexual assault during their time at college, with the majority of student victims knowing their attacker. Yet under 15 percent of sexual assault victims on campus ever report the crime to law enforcement. While less common, and even more underreported, male students are also victimized. Several factors make the university environment distinct in terms of responding to and preventing sexual assault. Universities have a special responsibility to protect their students – whether in partnership with, or independent of, law enforcement. Throughout the process, they must consider the impact of an assault on the victim, the attacker and the entire school community. In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment-makers will discuss how to:
• Create a culture in which sexual assault is not tolerated, promoting effective bystander intervention, self-defense training, and access to university resources and comprehensive care that support survivors of sexual assault,
• Utilize technology designed to provide a confidential reporting platform for college sexual assault survivors and to help schools facilitate the identification of repeat assailants, and
• Ensure that campaigns and initiatives against sexual assault on campus are student-driven and rooted in the experiences and perspectives of young people.
Panel Discussion:
Moderator:
Amelia Harnish, Senior Features Writer, Refinery 29
Participants:
Kim D. Kirkland, Executive Director, Oregon State University
Amanda Nguyen, Founder and CEO, Rise
Amy Ziering, Documentary Film Maker, Chain Camera Pictures
