In the powerful final episode of The Road Ahead – Survivor-Led Activism and the Fight for Change, the podcast reflects on the progress made in the fight against campus sexual assault while looking ahead to the work that remains. This episode serves as both a conclusion and a call to action, emphasizing the enduring impact of survivor-led activism and the next steps in creating lasting change.

As the series concludes, the message is clear: the fight is far from over. While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all students feel safe and supported. The episode closes with words of encouragement and solidarity, reminding survivors that their voices matter and that change is possible through collective action.

TW: Beyond 1 in 5 wants to acknowledge that this episode contains discussions of sexual assault, particularly in the context of college campuses. Some of the stories shared may be difficult to hear and may be triggering for survivors or those who have experienced trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you need to pause, step away, or skip this episode, that’s okay. You’re not alone, and support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, resources such as RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or online at rainn.org are available 24/7.

RESOURCES

Burke, T. (2021). Unbound: My story of liberation and the birth of the Me Too movement. Flatiron Books: An Oprah Book

Carmack, G. (2024). Storytelling for Social Change: Using Victim Narratives from Social Media to Disrupt Rape Myth Acceptance among College Students

Jaffe, A. E., Cero, I., & DiLillo, D. (2021). The# MeToo movement and perceptions of sexual assault: College students’ recognition of sexual assault experiences over time. Psychology of violence, 11(2), 209.

Larsen, S. (2020). Empowerment after sexual assault (Bachelor's thesis, Høgskulen på Vestlandet)

Lawless, E. J. (2013). Women escaping violence: Empowerment through narrative. University of Missouri Press.

Mueller, A., Wood-Doughty, Z., Amir, S., Dredze, M., & Nobles, A. L. (2021). Demographic representation and collective storytelling in the me too Twitter hashtag activism movement. Proceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction, 5(CSCW1), 1-28.

Onwuachi-Willig, A. (2018). What about# UsToo?: The invisibility of race in the# MeToo movement. Yale LJF, 128, 105

Palmer, J. E., Fissel, E. R., Hoxmeier, J., & Williams, E. (2021). #MeToo for whom? sexual assault disclosures before and after #metoo. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 46(1), 68–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09588-4

Strauss Swanson, C., & Szymanski, D. M. (2020). From pain to power: An exploration of activism, the# Metoo movement, and healing from sexual assault trauma. Journal of counseling psychology, 67(6), 653

Worthen, M. G., & Wallace, S. A. (2021). “Why should I, the one who was raped, be forced to take training in what sexual assault is?” Sexual assault survivors’ and those who know survivors’ responses to a campus sexual assault education program. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(5-6), NP2640-NP2674

In this episode, we examine the role of legislation in addressing campus sexual assault and protecting student survivors. From Title IX and the Clery Act to state-level reforms, we break down the key policies that shape how colleges respond to sexual violence. We explore how these laws have evolved, the gaps that still exist, and the ongoing debates around due process and survivor protections. Featuring insights from legal experts and advocates, this episode highlights the power of policy to create safer campuses—and the work still needed to ensure justice for all.

TW: Beyond 1 in 5 wants to acknowledge that this episode contains discussions of sexual assault, particularly in the context of college campuses. Some of the stories shared may be difficult to hear and may be triggering for survivors or those who have experienced trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you need to pause, step away, or skip this episode, that’s okay. You’re not alone, and support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, resources such as RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or online at rainn.org are available 24/7.

RESOURCES

Buzuvis, E. E. (2020). Title IX and official policy liability: Maximizing the law's potential to hold education institutions accountable for their responses to sexual misconduct. Okla. L. Rev., 73, 35

Clery Act of 1990, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f) (1990).

Department of Education. US Department of Education. (2004). https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/202107-qa-titleix.pdf

Gregory, D. E., & Janosik, S. M. (2003). The effect of the Clery Act on campus judicial practices. Journal of College Student Development, 44(6), 763-778.

Griffin, V. W., Pelletier, D., Griffin, O. H., & Sloan, J. J. (2017). Campus sexual violence elimination act: Saving lives or saving face?. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 42, 401-425.

Jaffe, A. E., Cero, I., & DiLillo, D. (2021). The# MeToo movement and perceptions of sexual assault: College students’ recognition of sexual assault experiences over time. Psychology of violence, 11(2), 209.

Johnson, D. R., & Zhang, L. (2020). Examining the role of gender in educational policy formation: The case of campus sexual assault legislation, 2007–2017. Harvard Educational Review, 90(4), 617-643

Streng, T. K., & Kamimura, A. (2017). Perceptions of university policies to prevent sexual assault on campus among college students in the USA. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 14(2), 133-142

Sugiarto, A., Lee, C. W., & Huruta, A. D. (2022). A systematic review of the sustainable campus concept. Behavioral Sciences, 12(5), 130.

Suski, E. (2020). The Title IX Paradox. Calif. L. Rev., 108, 1147

Violence Against Women Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 13925 (1994).

Sexual assault on college campuses leaves a profound and lasting impact on survivors, affecting their mental health, academic performance, and sense of safety. In this episode, we explore the emotional, psychological, and social toll that survivors often face—such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety—while also addressing the barriers they encounter when seeking support. Through survivor stories and expert commentary, we shed light on the importance of trauma-informed responses and institutional accountability. This episode offers insights into how campuses can better support survivors and foster a culture of safety and healing.

TW: Beyond 1 in 5 wants to acknowledge that this episode contains discussions of sexual assault, particularly in the context of college campuses. Some of the stories shared may be difficult to hear and may be triggering for survivors or those who have experienced trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you need to pause, step away, or skip this episode, that’s okay. You’re not alone, and support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, resources such as RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or online at rainn.org are available 24/7.

Resources

Carey, Kate B., Alyssa L. Norris, Sarah E. Durney, Robyn L. Shepardson, and Michael P. Carey. "Mental health consequences of sexual assault among first-year college women." Journal of American college health 66, no. 6 (2018): 480-486

Worthen, M. G., & Wallace, S. A. (2021). “Why should I, the one who was raped, be forced to take training in what sexual assault is?” Sexual assault survivors’ and those who know survivors’ responses to a campus sexual assault education program. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(5-6), NP2640-NP2674

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of consent on college campuses. Consent is often framed as a simple “yes” or “no,” but the reality is far more nuanced. We explore what enthusiastic, informed, and continuous consent looks like, how power dynamics can impact decision-making, and why consent education is critical in preventing sexual assault. Through real stories, expert insights, and practical strategies, we aim to empower listeners to foster safer and more respectful relationships. Whether you’re a student, educator, or ally, this conversation offers valuable tools to promote a culture of consent.

TW: Beyond 1 in 5 wants to acknowledge that this episode contains discussions of sexual assault, particularly in the context of college campuses. Some of the stories shared may be difficult to hear and may be triggering for survivors or those who have experienced trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you need to pause, step away, or skip this episode, that’s okay. You’re not alone, and support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, resources such as RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or online at rainn.org are available 24/7.

References

Brown, V., Haffner, G., Holmstrand, D., Oakum, C., Orbuch, E., Pavlock, V., & Pepperl, S. (2020). Rape and sexual assault. Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law, 21(2), 367-438

Jones, H. (2023). Experiences of Teaching and Implementing College Sexual Assault Prevention Education Programming(Doctoral dissertation, Lancaster University UK)

Krause, K. H., Woofter, R., Haardörfer, R., Windle, M., Sales, J. M., & Yount, K. M. (2019). Measuring campus sexual assault and culture: A systematic review of campus climate surveys. Psychology of violence, 9(6), 611.

Episode One of The podcast introduces listeners to the scope of the issue, providing a foundation with key definitions and statistics. The episode defines terms such as sexual assault, consent, and coercion. The episode highlights alarming statistics, including, approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men experience sexual assault while in college. Over 90% of sexual assault survivors on college campuses do not report the assault. LGBTQ+ students and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected, often facing additional barriers to reporting and support.

TW: Beyond 1 in 5 wants to acknowledge that this episode contains discussions of sexual assault, particularly in the context of college campuses. Some of the stories shared may be difficult to hear and may be triggering for survivors or those who have experienced trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening. If you need to pause, step away, or skip this episode, that’s okay. You’re not alone, and support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, resources such as RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or online at rainn.org are available 24/7.

Resources used for this episode:

Brown, V., Haffner, G., Holmstrand, D., Oakum, C., Orbuch, E., Pavlock, V., & Pepperl, S. (2020). Rape and sexual assault. Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law, 21(2), 367-438

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Sexual violence on campus: Strategies for prevention. Sexual Violence on Campus: Strategies for Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/communication-resources/campussv-prevention.pdf

Khan, S., Greene, J., Mellins, C. A., & Hirsch, J. S. (2020). The social organization of sexual assault. Annual Review of Criminology, 3(1), 139-163.

Moylan, C. A., Javorka, M., Maas, M. K., Meier, E., & McCauley, H. L. (2021). Campus sexual assault climate: Toward an expanded definition and improved assessment. Psychology of violence, 11(3), 296.

Muehlenhard, C. L., Peterson, Z. D., Humphreys, T. P., & Jozkowski, K. N. (2017). Evaluating the one-in-five statistic: Women’s risk of sexual assault while in college. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(4-5), 549-576.

RAINN: Sexual Violence. RAINN. (2024). https://www.rainn.org/

Beyond 1 in 5 is a podcast dedicated to raising awareness and educating on the realities of campus sexual assault. The name comes from the staggering statistic: 1 in 5 women experience sexual assault during their time in college. But behind every number is a story—a person—and we’re here to share those stories, provide resources, and empower change. Join us as we break the silence, challenge the status quo, and create a safer, more informed community for everyone.