|
|
Most sexual assaults involve either stranger rape or acquaintance rape. On most college campuses the majority of sexual assaults
are acquaintance rapes. During an acquaintance rape an individual is forced to have sexual intercourse against their will
by someone they know. The perpetrator may be a friend, date, roommate, or partner. The majority of victims are women and the
perpetrator is a male but there are cases when either men or women victimize men. Many of the cases of sexual assault seen
on a college campus involve the consumption of alcohol, which impairs a person's judgement to make true consent.
National statistics show a rate of one out of four to one out of six college women will be sexually assaulted during their
college career. We do not see numbers to verify this on our campus. Hopefully, through education we prevent sexual assaults
from occurring. If they do occur, there are resources to help the victim become a survivor and successfully continue at the
University.
BGSU educational programs focus on preventing sexual assaults and informing students of measures to take if they or someone
they know is sexually assaulted. We have established a coalition of faculty, staff, and students to respond to education,
prevention, and response. Click here for further information. Our programming includes residence/Greek presentations by staff and peers on prevention and response.
We also try to raise awareness about the use of predatory drugs i.e.rohypnol, roofies, and GHB. We have a male peer education
program entitled "Men Educating Men on the Prevention of Sexual Assault" (MEMPSA). Men present this program to an only male
audience.
When someone has been sexually assaulted, concerns include pregnancy, STI's, confidentiality, reporting, and collection of
evidence. The Student Health Service uses the rape kit to collect evidence, which is then released to the Campus Police if
the assault occurred on campus or to the city police if the assault occurred off campus. The rape kit can be collected within
72 hours of an assault. At the Student Health Service the student can receive prophylactic treatment for STI's, emergency
contraception, toxicology screens, and referral to counseling services on or off-campus.
There is a joint effort between the Student Health Service, Campus Police, Counseling Center, Judicial Affairs, Wood County
Hospital, County Prosecutor, and the SAAFE Program to empower the victim to become a survivor.
|
|
