As a college student, when I hear the term domestic violence, I often find myself thinking about it as a horrible problem that only happens between married couples with kids. It took me a while to realize that domestic violence, or relationship violence, happens (and is all too prevalent) on our own University campus. In fact, we females, ages 16-24, are actually at the highest risk of relationship violence out of any age group (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998). Am I saying that there’s a high likelihood that you or someone you know might be a survivor of relationship violence? Sadly, yes. Research shows that as many as one in four college students will experience an attempted or completed sexual assault over their college career (US Department of Justice, 2000). We also know that approximately 90% of sexual assault victims on a college campus know their perpetrator (National Institute of Justice, 2008).
Statistics are one thing, but what does relationship violence look like on our campus? Relationship violence is controlling, abusive and aggressive behavior in romantic, friend or acquaintance relationships. It happens in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships and can include verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or any combination of these. There are many reasons survivors may not report or get help, including fear of the perpetrator, self-blame, minimization of the crime, loyalty or love for the person who committed the crime, social or religious stigma, or lack of understanding (National Center for Victims of Crime, 2002).
If we want to end relationship violence on campus, we must support all survivors of sexual violence and stop perpetrators from committing violence in the first place. If you know survivors, the best thing you can do is listen, believe them and offer them resources. The ASUO Women’s Center, the University Counseling and Testing Center and Womenspace all offer support and advocacy for survivors. If you know someone who is abusive, say or do something! Don’t look the other way or the violence will just continue. Help raise awareness that relationship violence is a problem on the University campus.
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