Acquaintance rape is one of the most troubling aspects of campus life. Included in this article are results of various studies describing the nature of the problem, the impact of drinking, what to do if assaulted, and ways to confront campus assaults.
“I can’t believe he did it. We were teammates. He just didn’t seem like the kind of guy to do that kind of thing. I guess he just got too drunk. I really feel sorry for that girl.” Anonymous, UNC junior
It is estimated that 154,000 rapes occur each year in the United States. And, one of the most common violent crimes on the campus today is acquaintance rape. Depending upon what research you read, anywhere between one in four and one in ten college women report being raped or the victim of an attempted rape. Due to the nature of this crime and fear about reporting it, we can suspect the actual number of assaults may be more severe than some research indicates. Regardless of the exact number, everyone can agree this is a serious problem that must be confronted.
Initially referred to as date rape, acquaintance rape is now considered more accurate. The reason is simple. Research indicates campus rapes occur not only between people on a date, but also between those who simply know each other and are not dating. More than eight in ten victims know their attacker. They may meet at a party, or visit an off-campus house, or simply socialize in the residence hall, thus the term acquaintance rape. Remember, rape is rape, and using the term acquaintance does not suggest it is any less severe than with strangers.
As you read these statistics, they refer to male-on-female attacks. I do not wish to perpetuate the image of women as “victims,” nor men as “predators.” However, more often than not women are the victims of rape. For that reason, this article deals with male-on-female sexual assault. Rape, defined as forcing another person to engage in sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral), can occur between different or same sex individuals.
Alcohol is a depressant drug that impacts us in many debilitating ways including slowing down our central nervous system. As a result, alcohol can impair our ability to communicate. Therefore, men and women can often misinterpret what another is saying or doing. “Maybe later” becomes “yes.” “No” becomes “give me a few more drinks first.” An innocent kiss may be mistakenly viewed as an invitation to more intimate sexual contact. While under the influence of alcohol, verbal and non-verbal cues are frequently misinterpreted by college men and women, more often with men overestimating women’s interest in them as sexual partners based on the woman’s characteristics such as friendliness, attractiveness and clothing.
Alcohol can contribute to increased impulsivity. Aggressive actions a perpetrator may not have engaged in previously now may be acted upon, resulting in a violent attack. Alcohol is one of the only drugs that seems to contribute to aggressive, violent behavior in some individuals. In a study of female students who were victims of sexual aggression, sixty-eight percent reported the assailant had been drinking, and one in four admitted to being moderately or extremely intoxicated. In another study, more than half the male students who admitted to having committed sexual assault said they had been drinking. Some may even use alcohol and other drugs to justify an assault.
Alcohol can also impair our judgment. Victims may place themselves in a high-risk environment that they may have avoided had they been sober. This is not meant to blame the victim but rather to indicate the connection between alcohol and risk. In another study, more than half the women who reported being sexually assaulted also reported drinking or using drugs at the time of the assault. In the same survey, approximately twenty percent of victims reported being moderately or severely intoxicated. Again, this information is not meant to cast blame on the victim. What it indicates is victims of sexual assault are often rendered incapable of assessing a dangerous situation due, somewhat, to alcohol-induced impairment.
If you are assaulted, there are some critical steps that should be followed. First, get help! Due to the trauma, victims can rarely think clearly about what they can and should do. Either stay in your room and call for help, or get to a safe place. If you are not yet comfortable going to officials, get help from a friend with whom you can talk. There are a number of support services available for rape victims on college campuses. Also, the local police usually have specially trained officers sensitive to the needs of a rape victim. Additionally, if for any reason you are not comfortable with campus services or the police, you can contact a local women’s services organization in your community.
Although dealing with the proper adjudication of the crime is not of immediate concern to a victim of rape, maintaining the integrity of evidence is crucial for future decisions about judicial procedures. If you choose to report the assault, first call the police, then go to the hospital. Do not shower, bathe or douche. Do not change your clothes; however, bring a change of clothes with you to the police station or the hospital. The police will need the clothes you were wearing during the assault as evidence. Do not straighten up your room or the area where the attack occurred until the medical and legal evidence has been collected. Failure to obtain evidence within seventy-two hours after an assault can limit the legal actions for the victim following the assault. While at the hospital, have medical personnel treat external and internal injuries as well as test for sexually transmitted diseases. Most hospitals have specially trained nurses who will administer a rape kit. Finally, if you suspect there is the slightest chance you were slipped a sedating drug, have a urine test taken. Even if you are not yet at a hospital or treatment facility, collect the first urine sample available in a clean container.
These instructions may seem quite cold and calculating, but they are critical. The emotional turmoil and distress the victim experiences is certainly extremely painful, but following these steps will ensure that if the victim chooses to report and/or prosecute, there will be useful evidence. These steps are necessary to assist in ensuring that the attacker will be arrested and effectively prosecuted in court.
Clearly, high-risk drinking can have a major impact on the behavior of the drinker. Therefore, first and foremost, careful monitoring of your own alcohol consumption is critical in avoiding acquaintance rape. Although misinterpretation is an important factor, most acquaintance rapes are planned ahead of time by the perpetrators. By pressuring a date to drink heavily, the attacker can render his date less capable of resisting an assault. There are a number of steps students can take to confront this danger:
• Many campuses offer escort services – use them! If your campus does not offer this type of service, work with your administrators who can implement an escort service.
• Be sure you enter and leave a party with a friend. Commit to each other that, regardless of the circumstances, you will only leave a party with each other.
• Women should avoid going to a room alone with a man, especially if he has been drinking, even if it is her own room. If you do leave a social situation, tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Be assertive, direct and confident. If necessary, be confrontational and avoid mixed messages.
• Being embarrassed is better than being raped. Scream if necessary.
Some drugs can be placed in drinks without the drinker knowing it. Remember:
• Do not leave any drinks unattended.
• Do not take any beverages from someone you do not know well or trust.
• At a bar/club, only accept drinks from a bartender or waiter or waitress.
• Do not accept open container drinks from anyone.
• If you feel disproportionately impaired – meaning more impaired than you would normally be from the amount you have consumed – go to the emergency room immediately. Bring along a sample of your drink for analysis if possible.
Both men and women need to look out for each other. Together they can participate in campus and community advocacy groups that confront sexual assault. They can implement and/or support education programs about sexuality and acquaintance rape. Students, faculty and staff must maintain a high level of vigilance in scrutinizing how their administrators deal with sexual assault, especially the treatment of both the alleged perpetrators and the victims.
Men can be a positive force for change on their campus by:
• Assisting campus organizations with education and prevention programs
• Speaking out regarding their own concerns about sexual assault
• Challenging sexist and violent attitudes
• Developing and implementing low-risk party guidelines for campus organizations
• Carefully monitoring their own and their friends’ alcohol consumption
• Avoiding, and helping other men avoid, risky situations
“Ever since I was attacked, I have felt the need to help others by speaking out against all forms of violence.” Anonymous, Florida State, Sophomore
