By Alma Lizarraga
The Sexual Assault Awareness Violence Education Team (SAAVE) hosted a workshop about the sexual violence college students face last Wednesday.
The workshop coincides with sexual assault awareness month, which is every April.
The workshop explored sexual violence on campus and the culture that influences much of sexual assault.
The workshop gave out a lot of information and numbers on primary victims, and what’s more apparent to happen in assaults.
Gabby Orozco, from ELAC’s Women’s Center said statistically sexual assault on campus directly affects approximately 13% of students.
College women raise their chances of being assaulted just by simply attending school.
“Women are primarily the main individuals that are assaulted.
“We want to acknowledge that not only women are assaulted, but nonconforming, transgender, genderqueer and men as well,” Orozco said.
The percentage of transgender, genderqueer or nonconforming facing sexual violence is higher than men. These individuals have a 23% chance of being assaulted.
SAAVE said that most assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.
It was discussed that while attending college one in five women will be assaulted, one in 13 men will be assaulted. Out of those attacks, eight out of 10 survivors will know their abuser personally.
The workshop said approximately 95% of incidents go unreported. In the U.S. one individual is assaulted every 24 hours.
The workshop talked about college culture and how it’s contributed to the current climate of sexual assault on campus.
This included fraternities, which have a reputation for not holding their members accountable for assaults.
The workshop said fraternity men are three times more likely to rape than normal. Gang rapes are common.
The workshop said fraternity men can be seen as more privileged than other college men.
This is due to them being able to afford a fraternity in the first place.
The workshop explained the negative influences that have slowed education on sexual assault.
SAAVE said the lack of consent in the media makes it easier for abusers to justify their actions.
Hookup culture and social media can glorify assault and doesn’t always accurately represent consent.
The workshop said those victims childhood trauma or toxic beliefs are at times slow to recognize their own assault.
The hosts said there are resources for victims. There is also a need for sexual assault counselors to be on campus.
Survivors tend to feel ashamed of their assault due to the stigma around it despite no fault of their own.
SAAVE said there should be more focus on healing for past and present victims, and resources need to be available on campus.
These resources would include support groups, crisis intervention, counseling and linkage to long term services.
Contact ELAC’s Women’s Center 24/7 for Rape and Battery Hotline at 1(800) 585-6231.