Tracy Tamborra
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven
Key Findings
- Twenty-six percent of survey respondents indicated they had experienced a non-consensual experience; this group was 63% female.
- Eighty-two percent of the respondents that had a non-consensual experience, reported it occurred on campus.
- Thirty-six percent of those reporting non-consensual experience reported the perpetrators of the non-consensual actions were in fraternities or sororities with the others being athletes, non-students, or faculty/staff.
- Half of the participants surveyed in the study reported being incapacitated at the time of the sexual assault.
- Although 60% of students indicated they were comfortable contacting campus police if they were assaulted, and 80% said they were comfortable with contacting the campus counseling center, and 33% comfortable with contacting residential life staff, no students reported contacting those services.
Description
In the article, “A University Sexual Misconduct Policy: Prioritizing Student Victim’s Voices,” Tamborra and her co-author examine the sexual misconduct policies on college campuses with a focus on student input at all levels of policy creation. The researchers conducted their study by administering surveys to 114 upper level college students (49% female; 46.5% male with a mean age of 21.21). The sample was sorted into two groups, one who didn’t experience non-consensual sexual exchanges and another that did. Focus groups were also conducted with 14 participants, seven men and women each. The results showed that 26% of survey respondents indicated they had experienced a non-consensual experience; this group was 63% female. Eighty-two percent of the respondents that had a non-consensual experience, reported it occured on campus and 36% reported the perpetrators of the non-consensual actions were in fraternities or sororities with the others being athletes, non-students, or faculty/staff. Half of the participants surveyed in the study reported being incapacitated at the time of the sexual assault. Although 60% of students indicated they were comfortable contacting campus police if they were assaulted, and 80% said they were comfortable with contacting the campus counseling center, and 33% comfortable with contacting residential life staff, no students reported contacting those services.