User:SaanviPadaki/Campus sexual assault

The Red Zone

The Red Zone refers to spikes in sexual assault incidents that occur on college campuses in the fall semester (typically August through November). The red zone disproportionately impacts first-year female students who are still getting acclimated to a new college environment. Being away from guardians and friends, as well as (in some cases) living in a new city leaves freshmen vulnerable to substance use and other students. Additionally, those who participate in ‘rushing’ (the process of joining a sorority or fraternity) are more likely to be exposed to alcohol and party culture

History of the Red Zone

The term ‘red zone’ first appeared in freelance journalist Robin Warshaw’s book I Never Called It Rape, which was published in 1998. Warshaw discusses survey data collected from college campuses across the nation and the frequency of acquaintance rape, as opposed to rape perpetrated by a person unknown to the victim, on these campuses. Multiple sources claim that David Lisak, a clinical psychologist and former associate professor from the University of Massachusetts Boston coined the term ‘red zone’. Lisak is known for his work and research on sexual violence perpetrated by men. However, red zones have not been mentioned in any of Lisak’s publications.

Statistics on the Red Zone

Freshmen may be more vulnerable to sexual assault during their first semester because they do not have close friends who could intervene if they are in danger of assault, or because they are not aware of informal strategies that older students use to avoid unwanted sexual attention. A 2008 study by Kimble et al. also found support for the claim that sexual assaults happened more frequently in the fall semester, but the authors cautioned that "local factors" such as the timing of semesters, the campus residential system, or the timing of major fraternity events may influence the temporal risk of sexual assault.

More than 50% of all sexual assault cases occur during the period of move-in to the last day before Thanksgiving (August-November) as people are unfamiliar with the campus and may be trying out drugs or alcohol for the first time. Most campus sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. While stranger assault occurs the majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by acquaintance. Freshman who are female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ are often most targeted during the red zone. Also, those who have experienced sexual assault in the first semester of college often have higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Furthermore, many researchers point out the risk of Greek life and frat parties to getting drugged, as they often provide opportunities for unmonitored alcohol consumption. In 2022, Cornell University, which has the third largest Greek life system in the nation, suspended all parties and social events linked to Greek life following an increase in reported incidents of drugging at parties

Students and Organizational Activism

In response to the widespread issue of sexual violence on college campuses and inadequate measures taken by administration to protect survivors, students and other activist groups are organizing to challenge cultures of disbelief, victim blaming, and institutional neglect. These movements aim to advocate for systemic reforms that hold perpetrators accountable for criminal actions, provide sufficient counseling and support services, and afford students a safer campus environment. The first “Take Back the Night” march took place in 1978, in San Francisco, to protest violence against women. Since then, it has spread to college campuses across the nation. The SlutWalk movement emerged in 2011 to combat rape culture and the slut-shaming of sexual assault victims.

Some survivors of sexual violence have become notable activists. Emma Sulkowicz, then a student at Columbia University, created the performance art Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight). Lena Sclove, a student at Brown University, received media attention when she expressed that the one-year suspension of Daniel Kopin, who was accused of sexually assaulting her, was not an sufficient punishment due to the severity of the act he committed. While Kopin has publicly disputed the report and was found not guilty by the criminal justice system, he was determined responsible under the university’s preponderance of the evidence standard. Such cases have led to controversy and concerns regarding presumption of innocence and due process, and have also highlighted the difficulties that universities face in balancing the rights of the accuser and the rights of the accused when dealing with cases of sexual assault. Nearly 100 colleges and universities had a significant number of reports of rape on their main campuses in 2014, with Brown University and the University of Connecticut tied for the highest annual total — 43 each. The Sulkowicz and Sclove cases have led to further complaints of bias by the men against the universities (Title IX or civil) regarding how they handled the matters.

The organization Students Against Institutional Violence at the University of Vermont is devoted to creating a safe and healthy environment for all students. The organization aims to combat various forms of discrimination, including sexual violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism, through public education and advocacy. One of their primary initiatives is addressing the role Greek life plays in perpetuating rape culture. The group argues that the established policies and practices within fraternities act as an incubator for sexual violence and misconduct. They are calling on the university to commit to greater transparency and accountability, by rebuilding the Title IX website, simplifying the complex legal language used in the Title IX reporting process, and establishing an alternative pathway for reporting incidents beyond the traditional legal framework that is rooted in the values of restorative justice.

In 2022, Students Against Institutional Violence took activism beyond campus, in providing testimony to the Vermont legislature in support of Bill H.40, which would criminalize the non-consensual removal or tampering with a sexually protective device during intercourse, a practice known as “stealthing.” The student organization believes that the act of “stealthing” is sexual assault, as it involves consensual sex under false pretenses. Their advocacy marked a significant step in student involvement for legal protection against forms of sexual violence.

In 2022, hundreds of students at the University of Vermont staged a protest in response to an Instagram post by the university, which simultaneously congratulated athletes and denounced anonymous accusations of sexual assault on social media. The demonstration, which coincided with Admitted Students Visit Day, moved through campus, including the Davis Center and Brennan’s Pub and Bistro, areas set aside for prospective students. UVM athletics faced intense backlash for protecting abusers within its institution, according to student sources, and the men’s basketball team in particular is the target for numerous allegations. One of the victims, graduate student Kendall Ware, spoke out about the mishandling of her sexual assault case during her time as an undergraduate. She accused Anthony Lamb, now an NBA player, of assaulting her at an off-campus party in 2019, when he was a member of the men’s basketball team.