Preventing Campus Sexual Assaults in New York City 

Knowing the common fact patterns and statistics which surround campus sexual assaults in New York City can make a substantial difference in preventing them from happening. Sexual assault can involve verbal abuse, sexual exploitation, and controlling tactics.

As of August 2019, 43 percent of college women experience abusive dating behavior from a partner. This can include an acquaintance, significant other, relative, stranger, or someone that the victim cannot remember. In fact, eight out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. Additionally, one in five women – and one in 16 men – will be sexually assaulted while attending college.

Recognizing a Bad Situation

Recognizing a bad situation is easy in most instances. One person’s choice to stop an assault from occurring could end up saving a life, so it is important to respond to warning signs.

According to RAINN, some warning signs of sexual abuse include:

• Persistent sadness
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Anxiety about situations that did not seem to cause worry in the past
• Avoiding specific situations or places
• Increase in alcohol or drug use

Some steps you can take to deescalate a bad situation are as follows:

1. Create a distraction – this can be anything from spilling your drink at a party or inserting yourself into the conversation
2. Talk directly to the person who might be in trouble to find out if you need to intervene
3. Ask a nearby security guard, RA, or sober friend to intervene
4. Talk to someone who is close to the person in trouble, such as their roommate

Choosing to intervene can stop a bad situation from happening. By taking this step, you can help change the story and remove the stigma. Also, always remember that you can call 911 or campus police if you are in an emergency situation.

Cheryl Wheeler