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

["Bernstein, Lauren (LB)" <>]

Dear Colleagues,

I feel as though there are frequently reports out there that suggest that having more reported forcible sex offenses means that one's campus is unsafe or has more sexual violence. However, what we know is that campuses who are providing opportunities to report, including confidential ones, and for students to get help are seeing increasingly higher numbers. We also know prevalence is very high, one in four to one in five women; one in 13 to one in 33 men.  I am concerned when folks equate 0 to 1 reported sexual offenses as "safe" and 14 to 30 as "unsafe," when we know this is likely the opposite.

Still, the media gets this wrong a lot, and I'm struggling to find something to point to that truly addresses this.  

I'm wondering:

- Do you have something that you use to address the issue of more students coming forward vs. increases in sexual violence on your campus? 

- Do you think that we as advocates/preventionists/directors/coordinators should come together as a group to write a statement debunking some of the myths that are being perpetuated by the media?

Until we are able to see decreases in prevalence, perpetration, and victimization, I imagine that we all want to see the number of students actually being served and telling the university increasing. Indeed, this is what much of the "putting the university on notice" and training folks to report is about. Campuses are stuck because they are accused of sweeping this issue under the rug, but those of us who are not doing that are getting backlash for being "dangerous."

Thank you for your thoughts.

My best, 

LB

Lauren (LB) Bernstein, LMSW | Assistant Director for the Respect Program

Office of Health Promotion | Emory University Student Health and Counseling Services

Phone: 404-727-1514| Fax: 404-712-1519 | 

respect.emory.edu | 1525 Clifton Road, 103-I, Atlanta, GA 30322

 

The Respect Program engages the Emory community to prevent & respond to sexual assault & relationship violence as part of the Office of Health Promotion, which facilitates student learning, engagement, and well-being and collaborating for a healthy and socially just campus environment.  

---

This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of
the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged
information. If the reader of this message is not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution
or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly
prohibited.

If you have received this message in error, please contact
the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the
original message (including attachments).