April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, used to bring awareness about sexual assault and further educate our community on how to prevent sexual violence. Sexual violence is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “sexual activity when consent is not obtained or freely given.” It has been categorized as a serious public health concern in the United States as it impacts every community and affects all types of people.
West Virginia University has a zero-tolerance policy for these types of offenses and is proactively working to prevent sexual assaults and to help survivors who are impacted. It’s on all of us as a Mountaineer family to help one another wherever and whenever we can. Every Mountaineer has the right to go to school at WVU and be safe. No student should experience any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual assault.
Who is affected by sexual violence?
- 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted during their time at college.
- 1 in 16 men will experience sexual assault during college.
- 90% of campus sexual assaults are committed by someone that the survivor knows.
- 84% of female survivors report being sexually assaulted during their first four semesters on campus.
- 57% of college students who report experiencing dating violence report experiencing it while in college.
WVU provides resources, both on- and off-campus, to those affected by a sexual assault, which includes academic and housing accommodations as well as support and counseling for those in need. WVU also has Prevention Specialists who can help survivors in their decision to report and can help report the assault to law enforcement if the survivor chooses.
Knowing what the options are and what resources are available both on- and off-campus gives you the tools that you need to help yourself and others. For more information, please visit well.wvu.edu/sexualviolence, safety.wvu.edu/sexualassault, or diversity.wvu.edu/resourcesandreporting. If you would like to speak to someone anonymously, please call or text the Anonymous On-Call Line at 304-906-9930. Someone is available to take your call 24 hours a day.
Sexual assault starts and ends with the offender. It is never the victim’s fault.
See Friday’s (April 1) MOUNTAINEER ENews for a schedule of events throughout April.