Thousands of female college students have been victims of sexual assault. According to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 percent of women have been forced to submit to sexual intercourse against their will. Other surveys have found even higher proportions. These national findings suggest that many University students have been victims of sexual assault during their time here. However, University-specific data is incredibly sparse. The number and nature of sexual assaults on Grounds are almost completely unknown. Most unfortunately, this lack of data inhibits the development and assessment of policies aimed at combating sexual assault.
The Women's Center currently offers data on the annual numbers of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking reports to the Sexual and Domestic Violence Services from 1991 to 2005. But these numbers fluctuate dramatically from year to year. In 2005, 58 incidents of sexual assault were reported; in 2004, 28 were reported. In 1998, there were 70 reports; in 1997, there were only 18. The factors underlying these fluctuations are unclear. From this data, it is impossible to discern whether rises in reports are welcome or unwelcome changes. They could either evidence increases in crime or increases in reports.
Furthermore, administrators believe these reports greatly understate the actual number of sexual assaults on Grounds, considering findings on a national level. "Since people are not reporting, we do not know the actual number of incidents," said SDVS Director Claire Kaplan. This information -- the only University-specific data provided by the Women's Center -- offers little help. It does not give any indication of the number or nature of sexual assaults at our University.
Unfortunately, this lack of useful information significantly impedes efforts to reduce the number of sexual assaults involving University students. Effective police and programs require an understanding of where we currently stand as a University. Generalizations from national data are not sufficient. Without University-specific data, students, administrators and police cannot determine how often sexual assaults occur, where they happen and which students are being victimized.
The lack of adequate data on sexual assault also precludes the University from being able to properly assess its existing programs. The Women's Center considers the sharp rise in reported sexual assaults in 2005 to be a positive result of student activism. But the current data does substantiate this claim. Without more comprehensive information, it is impossible to determine whether the situation is improving or worsening from year to year. We can only guess. And considering what is at stake, guessing is not acceptable.
Data from reports will never provide adequate information on sexual assaults. Especially with acquaintance rapes or incidents involving alcohol, many students will choose not to report. Other students might not realize that certain encounters qualify as rape and decide against reporting them. The number of these unreported incidents will always be unknown. And so, annual fluctuations in reports will always provide little information for policy decisions.
Consequently, more comprehensive survey research is desperately needed. The University must conduct an anonymous survey of second, third and fourth-year female students. The survey should resemble many of the ones in national studies. It should ask students whether they have had or not had certain experiences. It also should use questions to determine when, where, and how most incidents are occurring. Do most sexual assaults occur in off-Grounds homes, in fraternities, in dorms or elsewhere? Do they involve acquaintances, strangers or close friends? The answers are incredibly important but presently unknown.
With an anonymous survey, the University could provide a much more accurate gauge of the number of sexual assaults involving students and their nature. By repeating it every couple years, all members of the University community could finally judge whether the situation is getting better or worse. We could gain a far better understanding of sexual violence at our University and develop policies and programs accordingly.
According to Kaplan, a survey would offer "incredibly useful" information, but conducting such a survey presents a "daunting task." The Women's Center does not have the necessary funding or staff to collect this information. The University must provide these funds. Fortunately, we already have many groups, programs and initiatives aimed at combating sexual violence. But we do not have the data to support their efforts. We have been shooting arrows in the dark. It is time to illuminate the target.
John Nelson's column appears Fridays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at jnelson@cavalierdaily.com.
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