Clearing up the myths of sexual assault

Sexual assault remains a problem on university campuses across the country, but many myths and misconceptions exist as well.

"The obvious one is that sexual assault is perpetrated by a stranger," said Leah Tolliver, coordinator for the Marshall University Women's Center. "It's really more like ‘acquaintance rape' issues."

Tolliver said students have a tendency to trust people who friends introduce. She said students should be cautious about whom they spend time alone with.

"I wish we could just assume the best out of people, but it's just not necessarily the reality of the world we live in," Tolliver said. "It's not necessarily somebody walking down the street at midnight when somebody jumps out of the bushes."

According to West Virginia State Police statistics, nearly 50 percent of victims are acquaintances with their attackers.

In addition to misconceptions about who usually commits sexual assault, Tolliver said one of the biggest myths she hears is what constitutes a date rape drug. She said many students only think of pills when talking about date rape drugs.

"The biggest date rape drug is alcohol," Tolliver said. "It's not somebody slipping something into your drink, it's getting too intoxicated while drinking alcohol."

Tolliver said even though victims sometimes choose to drink too much, that does not mean they are to be blamed for being assaulted.

   The U.S. Department of Justice conducted a survey that found three out of four males connected with date rape had been drinking or were under the influence of drugs. In addition, more than half of all female students involved in a date rape had used alcohol or other drugs.

   "You are in a situation where you are going to be more vulnerable to someone taking advantage of you," Tolliver said. "If you are intoxicated, don't do it."

   Sherri Steele, counselor from Marshall University Counseling Services, said she has to correct some students' perceptions of sexual assault victims.

   "I think people have that feeling that people won't believe them," Steele said. "Especially when alcohol is involved, victims feel like a huge part of it is their fault."

   National statistics say five percent or less of college females report being sexually assaulted, according to a U.S. Department of Justice survey. Steele said the stigma involved with victims of sexual assault is one that will be hard to eliminate.

    Though the majority of attackers are males, they aren't immune from being assaulted themselves. Nationally, nearly 100,000 men are raped each year.

   "I think a lot of the time we assume that sexual assault is only talking about a female victim," Tolliver said. "There's definitely a larger number of males who have been victimized as children, than are reported."

   The Women's Center helps victims of sexual abuse cope with the stigmas and aftermath of an attack. Tolliver said she works with victims of sexual assault and helps them overcome the guilt that many victims feel.

   Though many victims don't want to get the police involved, Steele said they should still seek counseling of some sort.

   "People think that if they have been sexually assaulted and they choose to seek therapy, that they then definitely have to report the assault," Steele said. "You do not. You can come to individual therapy and anything you say within the session is completely confidential."


   Adam Russell can be contacted at russell58@marshall.edu.