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It’s back-to-school season — and campus safety should always be in session
Combining the campus safety insight and tips can benefit any back-to-school experience.
August brings the start of a new school year. It also often comes with new safety concerns at campuses nationwide.
Those related to sexual violence have been shown to reach university students across the country. Acts of sexual violence can happen at minors’ schools, too.
Yet all can help make campuses safer for students at every education level.
Among college-aged students
Sexual violence can happen on the grounds of any college campus. The Association of American Universities offers survey results from students of public and private institutions nationwide. Their 2020 findings on students’ experience with sexual assault and misconduct since enrollment:
- About 13% of all students surveyed reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent.
- Close to 42% of all students surveyed reported experiencing at least one sexual harassment behavior.
- As many as 10% of all surveyed who had been in a partnered relationship since entering college reported experiencing intimate partner violence.
Sexual violence affects all demographics of students. But some groups in campus communities may be more vulnerable to the crime than others. In the same study, the AAU found:
- Close to three times as many undergraduate women reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact than women serving as graduate or professional students (25.9% vs. 9.7%).
- Two times as many undergraduate men reported experiencing sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent as men serving as graduate or professional students (6.8% vs. 2.5%).
- More than one-fifth of all surveyed who identified as transgender, nonbinary or gender questioning, called TGQN, reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact as undergraduates (22.8%), plus more than one seventh of graduate or professional students in the respondent group (14.5%).
These numbers show that any college-aged student can face exposure to sexual violence. The prevalence makes addressing vulnerabilities to the crime of value to all in campus communities. Of further value to know is how students can experience vulnerability even before they reach higher education.
In adolescents’ schools
Sexual violence also affects the lives of adolescents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a glimpse into the lives of students in grades ninth through twelfth from U.S. public and private schools. The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results include:
- As many as 11% of surveyed students reported experiencing sexual violence victimization by anyone in the previous year.
- Of those who reported sexual violence by anyone, about 60% also reported experiencing sexual Teen Dating Violence.
- Over 8% of all students surveyed reported experiencing lifetime forced sexual intercourse.
These percentages translate to thousands of students exposed to sexual violence in adolescence. The National Center for Education Statistics offers more findings revealing severe adolescent exposure rates. They show that crimes reported by students ages 12–18 at schools across the country have included hundreds of cases of rape or attempted rape. The age group also reported thousands of cases of sexual assault other than rape in recent years.
Such high cases in adolescent schools may prompt alarm in many. They should also serve to inspire preventive action.
Safety practices for every campus
All countrywide can take part in establishing safety practices at their campuses. This includes every student, teacher, administrator and other staff member. Each contributes to the ecosystem of campus environments.
There are many ways to foster safety from sexual violence at college campuses. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network suggests that students follow these tips, among others:
- Go with your gut. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in any situation, trust your instincts and leave.
- Make people earn your trust. Recognize that because a person goes to your school, knows your friends or spends time at your favorite hangouts doesn’t mean they’ll look out for your best interests.
- Be a good friend. Watch out for each other and stick together as much as possible.
- Party smart. Guard your drink at parties and take alcohol safety measures to stay in control.
- Be aware. Whether walking to the library or leaving a party, use a well-lit route back and stay mindful of your surroundings.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers sexual health guidance for those on college campuses. They also provide a detailed campus sexual violence resource list.
Preventing experiences of sexual violence among adolescents is also possible. The CDC shares several recommended practices for promoting safe and supportive school environments. These include the following:
- Provide professional development for teachers on classroom management techniques. Such teachers include those who offer sexual health education.
- Implement school-based positive youth development programs like mentorship or service-learning programs. Also, connect students to these types of programs in their community.
- Share resources with parents or other primary caregivers about positive parenting practices. These practices include how to talk with adolescents about sex and more.
Combining preventative action across campus communities can lead to better campus safety for all. With greater safety can come greater success in and out of the classroom.