April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual assault in college is a serious issue.
According to Campus Safety Magazine:
Between 20% and 25% of women will experience a completed and/or attempted rape during their college career (1)
More than half of raped college women tell no one of their victimization (1)
80% of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 30 (1)
44% of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 18 (1)
College freshmen and sophomore women appear to be at greater risk of being victims of sexual assault than are upperclassmen. 84% of the women who reported sexually coercive experiences experienced the incident during their first four semesters on campus. (4)The numbers are alarming, but we must remember there is a real person behind a single statistic. This episode features a glimpse inside the emotions, thoughts and actions of a sexual assault victim who is on the path to healing. Maggy, Be Preppy's Latinx/Hispanic Outreach Intern, shares her experience to help empower victims of assault to find their voice and take control of their situation.
If you or someone you know has be a victim of sexual violence or misconduct, you can find support and resource at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
To learn more about your rights on your college campus, visit American Association of University Women for their resource guide on Title IX and the Cleary Act.