The State of the Campus: Title IX and Sexual Assault on College Campuses

• In Event: Prevalence and Context of Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Abstract

Coinciding with the executive call to form the Whitehouse Council on Women and Girls (2014), there has been an increased interest in research on college campuses related to campus climates, sexual assaults, and other forms of victimization. This concentrated focus is supported by decades of empirical evidence that show rates of sexual assault for college-aged women to be significantly higher than older subpopulations within the general public, with an estimated 1 in 5 women reporting an incidence of sexual aggression during their college years (Black et al., 2011; BJS, 2013). Simultaneously, institutions of higher education have been mandated by Title IX to protect students from any form of sexual discrimination related to sexual violence, coercion, or intimidation (U.S. Department of Education, 2014). The present study will offer findings from a global Campus Climate Survey related to sexual violence and relevant Title IX issues for a medium-sized public institution of higher learning in the southwestern United States. Results will be presented and the authors will provide critical discussion regarding public policy and action items related to compliance of Title IX laws, sexual violence prevention, and the prevalence of victimization for university-aged students.

Authors

• Denise Paquette Boots, University of Texas at Dallas

• Jennifer Wareham, Wayne State University

• Nadine M. Connell, University of Texas at Dallas

• Timothy Bray, University of Texas at Dallas