Sexual Assault

1 in 4 college age women will have an experience that meets the legal definition of rape or attempted rape at some point during her college career
8 out of 10 victims know their perpetrators
Less than 5% of sexual assaults on college students are reported to law enforcement
Sexual assault can happen anywhere, at any time and to anyone
Sexual assault is a crime, used by one person to control, dominate and humiliate another
The perpetrator, not the victim, is always at fault

Some Common Myths & Truths

Myth: Sexual assault occurs only in unsafe situations by complete strangers

Truth: A perpetrator is not usually a masked stranger! 8 out of 10 college age victims report knowing their perpetrator

Myth: Women cry rape all the time

Truth: False accusations are exceedingly rare--reporting a sexual assault requires a lot of courage and bravery

Myth: When someone says “no” they're really playing hard to get and it means try harder

Myth: If a person doesn't fight back then it really wasn't sexual assault

Truth: Sexual assault can be life threatening, especially when a perpetrator uses a weapon or force—submission is not the same as cooperation—whatever a victim does to survive the attack is exactly what they should have done