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

["Franklin, Robert (VDH)" <>]

 

It would be interesting to see United Educators redo this 2011study now that so much has been done since the DCL

 

 

Student Sexual Assault: Weathering the Perfect Storm

 

By Alyssa S. Keehan, Senior Risk Management Counsel

 

Incidents of student-on-student sexual assault are a “perfect storm,” a confluence of some of the most difficult student

risk management issues—alcohol, mental health, and sexual violence. The safety and liability risks posed by student

sexual assault are significant and made more challenging because the underlying circumstances are often unclear.

Most situations involve acquaintances, no witnesses, and an unclear memory of events due to alcohol abuse.

From 2006-2010, United Educators (UE) received 262 claims of student-perpetrated sexual assault, which generated

more than $36 million in losses for UE and our members. The claims data show that students accused of perpetrating

a sexual assault are just as likely to sue the institution as accusing students. As colleges review their student sexual

assault practices in light of the April 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter (DCL) from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office

for Civil Rights (OCR), institutions should strive to provide a fair and impartial response to both parties until the matter

is resolved.

 

Student-on-Student Sexual Assault

In UE’s five-year study, 96 percent of the student-on-student sexual assault claims involved acquaintances. Students

accused of assault brought 54 percent of the claims and comprised 72 percent of the financial losses—composed of

legal fees and payments to claimants. The remaining claims and losses were brought by accusers.

 

Common Factors in the Claims

In 92 percent of the claims with losses, the accuser was under the influence of alcohol, and more than 60 percent of

accusers were so intoxicated that they had no clear memory of the assault. In addition, 63 percent of the accusers

were first-year students. Prior to the assault, 33 percent of the accusers battled mental health issues such as eating

disorders, 1 personality disorders, suicide attempts, or trauma from a previous sexual assault. Another frequent

factor was varsity athletes as alleged perpetrators. Although athletes are about 10-15 percent of an institution’s

student population, they comprised 25 percent of the study’s alleged perpetrators.

 

 

 

Robert L. Franklin, MS

Sexual and Domestic Violence

Community Outreach Coordinator

Division of Prevention & Health Promotion

Virginia Department of Health

109 Governor Street, 9th Floor

Richmond VA  23219

Phone: (804) 864-7739

Fax: (804) 864-7748

 

email:

 

web: http://www.knowcoercion.com

web: http://www.varapelaws.org

web: http://www.vahealth.org/Injury/sexualviolence/

web: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ofhs/prevention/

 

 

 

 

Attachment: Student Sexual Assault_Weathering the Perfect Storm.pdf
Description: Student Sexual Assault_Weathering the Perfect Storm.pdf