Transcript Calvin College Campus Climate Study on Sexual Assault Rachel M. Venema, PhD, MSW Department of Sociology & Social Work April 9, 2015

Calvin College Campus Climate
Study on Sexual Assault
Rachel M. Venema, PhD, MSW
Department of Sociology & Social Work
April 9, 2015
Background
 Prevalence of sexual assault during college
 Prominent cases of sexual assault on college campuses
 White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault
“The first step in solving a problem is to name it and know the extent of it—
and a campus climate survey is the best way to do that.” Not Alone, 2014.
Calvin College
 Previous campus study (1999)
 11% of female students reported an experience of attempted or completed rape since age 14.
 Clery Report Data
 Sexual Assault Prevention Team
 Broene Counseling Center
 Judicial Affairs
 Safer Spaces Team & Policy
Project goals
 Develop understanding of the campus climate
 Perceptions of leadership and institutional response
 Knowledge of policies and procedures
 Perceptions of reporting
 Bystander attitudes and behaviors
 Develop understanding of the incidence of sexual violence among Calvin students
 Characteristics and context
 Reporting behaviors and factors influencing disclosure
Project importance
 Experience of physical and psychological harm
 Need for support services
 Crime and justice issues
 Need for accountability
Project method
 Online survey sent to students from the 2013-2014 academic year
 Survey completion in 10 minutes on average
 Students who reported victimization completed a much longer survey
 30 names randomly selected for a $25 gift card
 1,236 (33.4%) students responded
Sample
(N = 1236)
n (%)
Population
(N = 3701)
n (%)
1068 (86.4)
12 (1.0)
42 (3.4)
103 (8.3)
5 (0.4)
2856 (77.2)
13 (0.4)
158 (4.3)
369 (10.0)
~
54 (4.4)
51 (4.1)
~
126 (3.4)
96 (2.6)
Sex Assigned at Birth
Male
Female
n = 1231
440 (35.7)
791 (64.3)
n = 3699
1663 (45.0)
2036 (55.0)
Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual
Bisexual
Gay or lesbian
Questioning
Other
n = 1234
1163 (94.2)
30 (2.4)
14 (1.1)
15 (1.2)
12 (1.0)
Racial/Ethnic Identity
White
American Indian/Alaska Native
Black/African American
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
Islander
Other
Hispanic or Latino
Multi-racial
Class Level
First year student
Second year student
Third year student
Fourth year student
Other
Living Situation
On- Campus: Residence Halls
On- Campus: KE Apartments
Off- Campus: with family/relative
Off- Campus: with friends
Any Off- Campus
Other
Sample
n (%)
Population
n (%)
n = 1233
n = 3693
354 (28.7)
355 (28.8)
296 (24.0)
203 (16.5)
25 (2.0)
1015 (27.5)
943 (25.5)
818 (22.2)
916 (24.8)
1 (0.03)
n = 1235
n = 3873
678 (54.9)
144 (11.7)
90 (7.3)
292 (23.6)
1852 (47.8)
475 (12.3)
1546 (39.9)
31 (2.5)
Perceptions of the campus climate
Strongly Disagree
I feel like I am a part of this college.
Disagree
3.9 9.1
5.7
If a crisis happened on campus, my college would
handle it well.
6.3
My college does enough to protect the safety of
students.
Strongly Agree
37.3
44.9
16.1
49.0
46.1
23.7
7.7
0%
Agree
48.2
I feel safe on this campus. 4.2
There is a good support system on campus for
students.
NAD
54.6
26.6
20%
30.1
14.2
52.9 11.0
40%
60%
80%
100%
Perceptions of college actions
If someone were to report a sexual assault
to a campus authority, how likely is it that:
Not at all Likely
The college would take the report seriously.
4.4
The college would support the person making the
report.
5.7
The college would take corrective action against the
offender.
16.7
10.9
0%
10%
20%
Moderately Likely
Very Likely
57.0
29.4
22.3
14.3
The college would take steps to protect the person
making the report from retaliation.
Likely
21.9
20.0
9.0
The college would forward the report outside the
campus to criminal investigators.
Slightly Likely
44.1
28.0
39.3
23.9
31.3
34.4
25.4
30.4
31.7
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Perceptions of reporting experiences
If someone were to report a sexual assault
to a campus authority, how likely is it that:
Not at all Likely
Students would support the person making the report. 4.7
17.1
Students would label the person making the report a
4.4
troublemamker.
The alleged offender(s) or their associates would
retaliate against the person making the report.
Slightly Likely
16.7
10%
Moderately Likely
27.5
57.0
23.9
20%
30%
40%
Very Likely
50.1
21.9
14.3
0%
Likely
32.0
50%
60%
70%
26.9
80%
90%
100%
Factors that influence reporting
Based on behavior you have observed,
how likely are students willing to…
Extremely Unlikely
Allow personal loyalties to affect reporting of
unwanted sexual contact.
11.1
Choose not to report sexual assault out of concern
they or others will be punished for infractions, such
as underage drinking.
10.3
0%
10%
Unlikely
Neutral
Likely
19.8
38.8
15.3
20%
30%
Extremely Likely
34.4
40%
50%
60%
70%
Don't Know
16.7
12.2
23.6
13.1
80%
90%
100%
Reporting procedures and support
Strongly Disagree
If a friend or I were sexual assaulted, I would know
where to go to get help.
15.8
I am familiar with the college's formal procedures to
addres reports of sexual assault.
Disagree
0
Agree
9.8
10.7
I am confident that the college uses its formal
procedures to address reports of sexual assault fairly. 4.6
NAD
39.6
Don't Know
43.9
25.7
15.2
22.1
20
Strongly Agree
20.6 8.1
43.8
40
60
21.2
80
100
The influence of training
Agreement with Statement
If a friend or I were sexually assualted, I would know
where to go to get help.
61.4
82.9
I am familiar with the college's formal procedures to
address reports of sexual assault.
17.9
45.9
I am confident that the college uses its formal
procedures to address reports of sexual assault fairly.
61.3
71.0
0
10
20
30
40
No Training
50
60
Training
70
80
90
Training related to sexual assault
 36.6% of students have participated in an educational program or training related to
sexual assault
 111 (9%) Every Choice online training
 187 (15%) SAPT Residence Hall training
 189 (15%) Student Leadership training
 125 (10%) Other
Hearing a disclosure of sexual assault
During the 2013-2014 academic year,
 24% of respondents had a friend or acquaintance disclose an unwanted sexual
experience.
 10% of respondents observed a situation that the student believed was, or could have led
to, a sexual assault.
Intervening in potential sexual assault
n = 98
5.1
4.1
I asked the person if they needed help.
5.1
I created a distraction.
34.7
8.2
I stepped in and separated the people.
I asked others to step in as a group.
I decided not to take action.
8.2
None of the above.
I confronted the person who appeared to be causing the situation.
10.2
12.2
12.2
I considered intervening, but couldn't safely take action
I told someone in a position of authority about the situation.
Clarifying terms
 Sexual Assault
 Involves penetration or other sexual contact
 Involves force or coercion
 Consent
 Affirmative consent
 Factors that inhibit the ability to consent
Incidence
During the 2013-2014 academic year,
 101 (9.5%) students experienced unwanted sexual contact.
 30 (30%) of those students reported more than one experience of unwanted sexual contact.
 Predominantly women (82.8%), however 17% men
 Predominantly heterosexual (81.2%), however 19% LGBTQ+
 Of students who identified as LGBTQ+ on survey, 27% reported unwanted sexual contact
compared to 7% of those who identified as heterosexual
 Variety of class levels
 Students who live on-campus: 57.4% residence halls, 15% KE apartments, 26% off-campus
Characteristics of victimization experience
 Most common experience (78%) involved forced touching
 About half involved psychological coercion/extreme pressure
 30% involved physical force
 About half involved perpetrator and victim’s use of alcohol
 Most commonly involved an acquaintance (40%), a friend (32%), ex-romantic partner
(19%), stranger (19%), or casual date (14%).
 Most (54%) involved other students at Calvin College
 Majority (70%) occurred off-campus; two-thirds of which were in Grand Rapids
Reporting and disclosure
 Only 1 (of 101) student used the college’s formal reporting procedures
 8 students were unsure
 Very few reported to local police, faculty or staff at the college, or campus sexual assault
advocate.
 Instead, students most often told a close friend (60%), a roommate (29%), or no one (31%).
Reasons for not disclosing
n = 94
Didn’t think what happened was serious enough to talk about
n (%)
48 (51.1)
Wanted to forget it happened
34 (36.2)
It’s a private matter – wanted to deal with it on my own
33 (35.1)
I thought I would be blamed for what happened
31 (33.0)
Didn’t want others to worry about me
31 (33.0)
Ashamed/embarrassed
30 (31.9)
Didn’t think others would think it was serious
30 (31.9)
Didn’t think others would understand
26 (27.7)
Had other things I needed to focus on and was concerned
about (e.g., classes, work)
23 (24.5)
Summary
 Incidence is higher than official reports
 Peer culture may discourage reporting
 College culture may discourage disclosure and reporting
 Most students are not familiar with college policies on sexual violence and support nor
have they received training in this area
Implications
 Determine gaps and develop more effective strategies for prevention, education, and
support services
 Explore and address elements of campus culture that perpetuate violence and silence
 Continue to monitor campus climate and incidence of sexual violence
Questions
 For a copy of the presentation or report, please feel free to contact me:
 Rachel Venema, Dept. of Sociology & Social Work
 [email protected]
 Spoelhof Center 221
Upcoming SAPT Events on Campus
 Wednesday, April 15, 7pm– “The Mask You Live In” –
Commons Annex Lecture Hall
 Monday, April 27, 6pm – “Relationships and Consent:
What Everyone Needs to Know.” BHT Residence Hall
 Thursday, April 30, 12:20pm – Prayer for victimsurvivors and for our community response. Commons
Lawn
 Thursday, April 30 – Take a stand and sign the It’s On
Us pledge. The pledge will be on a banner available
for signature in Johnny’s from 9am to 5pm.