“Sexual assault is a problem on almost every college campus across the nation,” said Heather Driver, assistant director of Student Wellness and Outreach.
Driver explained in an email that since sexual assault is a very under-reported crime, the specific number of assaults at JMU is unknown.
“National surveys have shown that one in four females will be a victim of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault before they graduate from college,” Driver said.
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation’s largest nonprofit sexual assault crisis network and prevention organization. Since its inception in 1994, RAINN has helped 1.2 million victims of sexual assault.
In April 2008, RAINN created an online crisis hotline to provide easier access for help to victims of sexual assault.
“According to the FBI, rape is the second most violent crime. We wanted to make access for victims easier,” RAINN spokeswoman, Lynn Parrish said.
The online hotline is a completely confidential way to help victims take the first step of getting help and moving toward recovery. Parrish said that people go online to look up information from blogs and other sources that are not always correct.
“More young people go online to look up health information than to download music,” Parrish said.
The Web site allows victims to talk with a trained crisis volunteer who can help with immediate concerns and then direct them to local resources for more assistance.
“Many people who are sexually assaulted just don’t want to talk about it. Many more are comfortable talking online,” Parrish said.
Parrish said people should be assured that transcripts are not saved. Volunteers show people how to clear their cache, and RAINN does not collect IP addresses.
Since the Web site’s launch in April, Parrish said they have received great feedback and a very positive response. RAINN still operates a 24-hour hotline for victims or people who want to get help for their friends, family members or significant others.
In addition to the national hotline, JMU offers many local resources for students. Campus Assault ResponsE (CARE) can give specific references to campus and the Harrisonburg community.
“The majority of sexual assaults are committed by someone you know, involve alcohol and happen in either someone else’s residence or your own,” Driver said.
The Office of Student Wellness and Outreach has individual and group counseling, CARE, One in Four and a resource library where people can check out books and get information about sexual assault prevention. CARE is a student-run sexual assault crisis hotline that JMU students can call to receive immediate help.
In addition to the Office of Student Wellness and Outreach, the JMU Public Safety Office also provides prevention resources and resources for students who have been sexually assaulted.
“We give hall talks in dorms that involve alcohol awareness and sexual assault prevention,” said Lt. Landes of the JMU Police.
Landes also said that the Public Safety Department offers a national program called Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D) that teaches physical defense for both men and women. Many different universities across the country, including JMU, offer this program as a way to prevent sexual assault.
Parrish wants students to be aware of their surroundings and trust their instincts in order to be safe.
Driver noted it is important to use the buddy system, count drinks, watch drinks, and alternate alcoholic with non-alcoholic drinks.
“If there is one sexual assault at JMU in any given year, then that one is too many,” said Driver.
Parrish said that people do not always think about that guy or girl sitting next to them in class as an attacker. She said that it is important for people to be knowledgeable about this topic and for them to remember that an attacker is typically not the stranger that jumps out from behind the bushes.
“Almost two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone known by the victim,” said Parrish
Parrish wants victims to know that they are not alone, it is never their fault and nothing is an invitation for rape.
