With a recent report of an attempted sexual assault on Grand Valley’s campus that has since been determined to be false, it is important to understand the dynamics of sexual assault. Both college women and men hold misconceptions about sexual assault and knowledge of the facts is essential to preventing sexual assault on campus. Sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual behavior or sexual contact obtained without consent and/or obtained through the use of force, threat of force, intimidation or coercion.

Sexual assault is a reality for many women on college campuses. Stranger assaults are traumatizing and rightly receive great attention. While images of sexual assault by a stranger saturate our cultural consciousness of sexual violence, on campus, approximately 90 percent of women know the person who sexually assaulted or raped them, according to a 2000 study by the U.S. Department of Justice. The greatest number of sexual assaults occurs between friends, acquaintances, and dating partners. On college campuses, approximately one in five women and one in 15 men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime.

Widely held misconceptions of false rape allegations contribute significantly to underreporting of these crimes. FBI statistics suggest that false reports for sexual assault are similar to those of other crimes. Of larger concern is the fact that an estimated 64 – 95percent of victims do not report crimes committed to them, making sexual assault the “silent epidemic”.

The prevalence of sexual assault and rape is supported by a culture that must be countered. Men and women at GVSU must take responsibility and challenge myths and stereotypes surrounding sexual violence. This can start by shifting the conversation from what women can do to reduce their risk to what men can do to prevent/stop rape. While all men are not perpetrators, all men can play an important role in interrupting masculine norms which perpetuate sexual violence. Both men and women can interrupt sexist jokes and objectifying language, stop peers who are using alcohol as a tool to facilitate sexual assault, and confront abusive behavior. We should not only be looking to protect our friends at parties, we should be intervening when others act inappropriately or violently and educating ourselves and others about the degrees of violence.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, GVSU has many resources available for students. The Counseling Center, located in the Student Services building, is a place where you can confidentially seek help. Additionally, the Women’s Center, located at 1201 Kirkhof Center, has a wealth of resources. You can also reach a representative by calling (616) 331-2748 or by emailing [email protected]. If you are sexually assaulted you can contact the Grand Valley Police Department 24 hour non-emergency dispatch center at (616) 331-3255 or if you need immediate help dial 911 for an emergency.

GVSU Campus Violence Prevention Team