Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Claire Kaplan <>]

Delivered-To:
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 14:54:57 -0800
From: felicia hunt <>
Subject: Research on post assault experiences of college women
To: Claire Kaplan <>
X-Mailer: iPlanet Messenger Express 5.2 HotFix 1.21 (built Sep  8 2003)
X-Accept-Language: en
Priority: normal
X-Spam-Checked-By: fork4.mail.virginia.edu
X-Spam: No
X-Spam-Status: No hits=0.00 required=10.00 tests=
X-Spam-Level:

Dear Colleagues:

I am beginning a study, under the advisement of Melora Sundt, Associate Dean
for Research at the University of Southern California, on the post-assault
experiences of college women. 

As we know, rape and sexual assault are some of the most frequently committed
violent crimes in the United States.  Most of the research on rape and sexual
violence has been aimed at determining the prevalence of these crimes. 
Researchers have succeeded in demonstrating that:  (1) the prevalence of rape
and sexual violence is widespread and (2) if anything, the prevalence is
understated.  These studies have made significant progress in improving the
way we define sexual violence and in our understanding of the prevalence of
violence on campus.  These studies, however, do not tell us much about the
post-assault experiences of women including what choices women make and how
those choices impact their life after the assault. 
Accordingly, I have chosen to undertake a qualitative study that will involve
interviewing women students from your campuses. Specifically, this study will
address these questions:

1.      What are the experiences of female college students who survive sexual
violence?  What decisions do they face; what choices do they make?
2.      What impact does the institution have on these students’ decisions after
the assault?
3.      In addition to any institutional practices, what other factors influenced
the students’ decisions to tell or not to tell someone in an official capacity
(for example a campus administrator, or law enforcement officer) about the
assault?I am asking that you support this study by referring women students
that (a) you have worked with, (b) have encountered an incident of gender-
directed violence, and (c) are willing to discuss their experiences.  To make
a referral, I ask that you give students a copy of the attached student letter
with information on the study and my contact information at the University of
Southern California. I also ask that you follow-up with me individually to
confirm that a referral has been made.    I can be reached at or
at 213-740-2157. All referrals and interviews will be kept in confidence.
Your support with this study would be significant because you are committed to
addressing violence against college women.  I am counting on your professional
expertise to refer women who you think are able to participate in a study of
this type. I am concerned that women who are not far along in their recovery,
or who might experience post traumatic stress syndrome as a result of talking
with me about their post-assault experiences, may not be a match.  I ask for
your support in referring candidates who you think can discuss these sensitive
issues without experiencing additional trauma. 

Finally, I am committed to staying connected to you as a referrer, and as a
confidant of the victim, during the interview process.  Victims who are
willing to be interviewed may bring a support person to these interviews. 
Furthermore, I will contact you with the date and time of my interview with
your referral so that you can be on-call if this student requires additional
support. 

As the researcher, I will conduct focused (semi-structured) interviews. I can
also conduct phone interviews and email interviews if that is the preference
of the interviewee.  This format will allow for the collection of targeted
information
that is directly related to the topic.  It also allows for a comfortable
conversational atmosphere.  My interview questions are attached for your
review.  I anticipate that the interviews will last about 1 hour and, if
possible,  will take place at the participant’s college in an emotionally safe
and confidential space.   The interviews will be audio taped for quality
assurance and transcribed with the permission of the interviewees.  However,
interviewees who choose not to be audio taped may still participate in the
study.  Tapes and recordings will remain in a locked cabinet in an office
within the Rossier School of Education and will only be accessible to Dr.
Sundt and myself.
        I appreciate your support with this project.  Please contact me, or Dr.
Sundt, if you have any questions or concerns related to this study.


Sincerely,
Felicia Hunt



Felicia Hunt
USC Rossier School of Education

Claire N. Kaplan, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Sexual Assault Education
UVA Women's Center
P.O. Box 800588
Charlottesville VA 22908-0588
434.982.2774 Voice/TTY
434.982.2901 Fax

http://sexualassault.virginia.edu

Attachment: student.letter.doc
Description: MS-Word document

Attachment: Questions.doc
Description: MS-Word document