Can I Help You? Examining the use of Informal and Formal Student Services for Victims of Campus Sexual Assault.

• In Event: Interpersonal Victimization on College Campuses: Results from a Southern University’s Campus Climate Survey

Abstract

Over the last decade campus climate safety has been at the center of the legislative “conversation” related to Title IX, specifically regarding the increased number of campus sexual assaults reported each year. Legislation (i.e. Campus SaVE and Title IX), not only highlight the importance of prevention, but also the importance of serving students who have been victims of campus sexual assault. Of the 6,964 students in the sample, 233 students were sexually assaulted and 164 of those disclosed their assault. Although past research has highlighted which victims of campus sexual assault utilize services offered to students, minimal qualitative research has examined barriers to services for students who did not disclose their assault. This presentation will highlight: (a) demographics of sexual assault victims and help seekers, (b) the relationship between sexual assault and help seeking, and (c) qualitative data illustrating the main reasons why students did not seek help from student service resources. The results have implications for implementing new campus initiatives and reforming current programs to better serve university students.

Authors

• Jaspreet Chahal, University of Kentucky

• Caihong R. Li, University of Kentucky

• Margaret Campe, University of Kentucky

• Xian Wu, University of Kentucky

• Diane Follingstad, University of Kentucky