College sexual assault statistics have reached epidemic proportions in
recent years. The White House is now spearheading efforts to combat the
problem – September marked the official launch of “It’s
On Us,” a campaign designed to change reform universities around
the country.
The movement was a significant development following the advice of a White-House
ordered task force earlier in April. Their efforts will seek to raise
awareness regarding sexual assault and inform college students about how
prevalent the issue has become. The underlying goal is to increase prevention
and minimize record-level statistics.
“It’s On Us” will work to identify the problem on campuses,
engaging men in specific prevention measures, effectively respond to assault
wherever it’s reported, and work to increase transparency in the
federal government’s effort to enforce sexual assault laws as relating
to sexual assault cases.
While it will take years of research to indicate whether task force efforts
relating to “It’s On Us” will make any discernible difference,
it’s clearly a step in the right direction. The prevailing theme
in America regarding sexual assault is that victims feel forced into remaining silent.
Helping Victims Through Positive Psychology
It’s not uncommon for victims of sexual assault to place the blame
on themselves. Relegated to silence through powerful feelings of shame,
the psychological damage of sexual assault is a confounding specter. Advocates
believe attitudes in America regarding college sexual assault further
reinforce the belief that victims have only themselves to blame.
An effective task force thus will place equal importance in preventing
sexual assault as revamping the support system for subsequent victims.
Just as “It’s On Us” will look to educate universities
on prevention,
it’s on us to effectively change the culture for sexual assault victims in America.
According to current statistics, 1 in 5 women will find themselves the
victim of sexual assault during their time at university.
(Original story reported by
CNN.)