The Campus Rape Epidemic Comes To Ball State

Each year an estimated two million incoming freshman start college. They swarm campuses across the country, fresh from graduation. They've sweated through senior year of high school, taken their placement exams and competed for scholarships all for this; an opportunity for a higher education. They are on their own. This is their first real taste of freedom.

But with that freedom comes risk, and that risk is in full force earliest in the semester. Dubbed The Red Zone for its sky high rates of campus assaults, the first six weeks of the school year are especially dangerous for incoming freshman. Officials at the University of North Carolina spoke to a local news affiliate, that "the first month and a half is the time when freshman women are most likely to be raped or experience campus rape."

An article done for USA Today cited statistics found in The Journal of Adolescent Health revealed that 18.6% of women had experienced rape or forcible touching during their first year on campus. But why are freshman more likely to be victimized? USA Today also spoke to Christopher Krebs. Krebs is a senior researcher and author at RTI. When asked why the rates were so high for freshman, Krebs said "Freshman living away from home might be preyed upon by men who understand how to take advantage of them and compromise their ability to anticipate risk. Of course, freshman aren't responsible for what happens to them, but if they're not aware of what's going on they can be at greater risk."

This could also explain the the high rate of rapes and attempted sexual assaults that occur in campus residence halls. Freshman are usually required to live on campus their first year, although some universities have them living on campus until the end of sophomore year do to strict housing contracts - Ball State being one of them. Almost all the public safety notifications BSU students received concerning a sexual assault or attempted one, mentioned that the attack took place inside a residence hall. Director Mike Gillian of Ball States' Office of Student Rights and Practices, concurred with data found in the annual campus safety report regarding the number of on campus assaults, saying that Fraternity row (riverside) and campus residence halls are indeed "high risk areas."

LaFollette complex for example, almost only houses freshman students. The courtyards are poorly monitored, the stairwells are soundproof, and the locks are insufficient. And in 2012 was the scene of a very real attempted sexual assault, as reported by Ball Bearings. Given the cost of housing college students nowadays, It can only be expected that Universities will keep its students safe and secure. Furthermore, aged dorms such as LaFollette could be actually seen as serious potential liabilities.

Just this past fall, Ball State fell under investigation for the mishandling of a sexual assault claim in which a male student claimed he'd been attacked by another male, the university was accused of discrimination. Eerily enough, the accused botching of sexual assault claims/investigations is no stranger to Indiana schools. According to the Indy Star seven other Indiana colleges have been investigated - suspected of violating the no discrimination policy under Title XI.

So where does Ball State rank when compared against some of Indiana's top colleges? After examining campus safety reports from Ball State, Indiana University, Purdue, Notre Dame, and Butler University, in which the amount of sexual assaults and forcible fondlings for 2015 & 16 can be found, it was determined that Ball State ranks third behind IU and Purdue with 65 reports and represented 20.25% of rapes and fondlings for those two years at those five Indiana universities. (Shown above). IU came in with a staggering 85 , followed by Purdue with 72 reports

As previously mentioned, The danger is no less here at Ball State. This past September students were notified via email a total of five times that there had been a sexual assault in or around Ball State's Campus as reported by The Ball State Daily. Later that semester All 13 IFC Fraternities on Ball State's Campus were placed on probation for over three months for a multitude of reasons. One of which being the sexual assaults that happened on the 1100 block of Riverside.

Fortunately, this problem hasn't completely fallen on deaf ears and universities have started implementing changes in the hopes of combating the statistics such requiring students to take an online course prior to their arrival on campus, offering free self defense classes the campus recreation centers and stepping up security after dark. Also working to fight the epidemic of campus sexual assault are groups such as Step In Speak Up.

As we prepare to leave campus after yet another semester for the summer months, caution would be wise. Sexual assaults occur more frequently in warmer weather, as shown by this study. Sadly there was another assault reported just last night - this one in a residence hall. While we cannot permanently end the national threat of campus assault, it's important to do the following :

-Accept and recognize that this is a very real problem facing modern universities

-Work to spread awareness, if you see something, say something. Stay vigilant.

-Campaign to convince your university to implement the necessary precautions and steps to ensure that your campus does NOT become a hunting ground.

*If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or attempted sexual assault/violence please call the Ball State Police at (765) 285-1111

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