Find your people  
Effective events don’t create themselves. Nor are they planned by just one person. Find allies who represent different communities within your campus. See 2. Find your allies.

Talk about your goals for the event
What are you looking to achieve? For example, you might aim to:

• Recognize and empower survivors of abuse and assault.
• Memorialize or protest specific incidents of assault.
• Reach people who have never engaged with this issue before.
• Get more people involved in a campus or community program or policy.
• Work with administrators to develop campus policy.
• Build connections and unity among people who might not normally find each other.

Talk about how you can meet your goals

• What key messages are you aiming to convey?
• In what ways can you deliver those messages?
• Who does your ideal audience include?
• How can you engage, inspire, and empower your audience?

Talk about how you can address your key themes
For example:

• Create a space in which people feel comfortable talking about their experience of sexual assault or related issues they see in your campus community.
• Hold a workshop on sexual empowerment: What this looks like and how to get it.
• Brainstorm about how to work as a community to create more positive sexual and social dynamics.
• Discuss and rally around proposed changes at your college or university that align with the goals of your event.
• Create a more social event in which diverse people feel comfortable and safe together.

Should it be a Take Back the Night event, or another event?
Among sexual assault awareness events, Take Back the Night is the most well known “brand”. Consequently, some people may have certain expectations for what it should be. But planning a Take Back the Night event isn’t very different from planning any other event meant to discuss sexual culture and misconduct. As an organizer, it’s on you to figure out what those expectations are, and discuss them. What should change? What shouldn’t? Ultimately, what’s right for your campus?

+ Don’t skip the Take Back the Night planning manual

+ Organize to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

+ Organize a Slutwalk

+ Start a Clothesline Project

When you create a more empowered culture on your college campus, everyone benefits. Your event will be far more effective if people from every corner of campus participate and help promote it. Invite other groups to plan and sponsor the event with you.

Look for allies who are:

• United by a common desire to create an empowering event
• Able to help broaden your audience (for example, by telling an unexpected story, performing music, or involving groups who haven’t been part of this before)
• Willing to take on different parts of the planning. What do you and the other organizers need help with?

Look for allies among different campus groups, organizations, and services:

• Greek organizations, including social, honor, academic, and service organizations
• Campus women’s centers and gender centers
• LGBTQ+ groups
• Groups representing ethnically and racially diverse students
• Cultural houses and centers
• Religious and faith-based groups
• Residential groups, including RAs, peer educators, and international students
• Athletics clubs and teams
• Arts-based groups (e.g., drama, visual arts, music)
• Campus staff and faculty, such as counselors, victim advocates, or Title IX administrators
• Community organizations and services, including high schools

Students’ stories

The importance of inclusion and diversity

In a recent survey by Student Health 101, students recommended ways to make Take Back the Nights more successful. One of their most recurring themes was the importance of diversifying the participant lineup and broadening the audience.

“If I were organizing an event, I would definitely try to find a more diverse group of people to present.”
—Recent graduate, University of New Mexico

“I think the most effective message was the number of people that showed up.”
—Recent graduate, University of New Hampshire

“I would do a poll to see what people wanted to hear about most or who from before choosing the speaker.”
—First-year undergraduate, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

“The most important thing I saw [at the event] was a community that actively believed in and helped women.”
—Second-year undergraduate, University of Miami, Florida

“I would try to have more outreach as well as include representation from all walks of life, including the LGBTQ community, to show that [sexual assault and misconduct] can happen all the time.”
—Fourth-year online undergraduate, State University of New York, Empire State College

What kind of tone and mood will help accomplish your goals?
Take Back the Night and similar events can take different moods. An event may be somber (for example, small-group discussions that facilitate spontaneous sharing about personal experiences), or loud (for example, dynamic speakers addressing a sizeable audience).

Include varying stories
Every event on this theme should focus on inclusiveness:

• State explicitly early and often that sexual assault and harassment affect many different kinds of people and do not necessarily conform to a familiar narrative.
• Everyone whose life has been affected by sexual misconduct has their own story. Your event will become more powerful when different people share different stories.

Plan a cohesive itinerary
Any single event can involve several activities. How will the line-up and order of these various elements affect your audience’s emotional experience?

Find an MC
At the event, you will need to make clear who’s helping to guide it. Your MC is not there to dominate the event, but to set the right tone and keep things going smoothly. Consider:

• Who would establish that inclusive tone and messaging?
• Who can deal with things not going according to plan?
• Who might think about how the order of speakers or subjects could open up the event to certain conversations? These themes might include intimate partner violence, catcalling, people becoming sexually active after bad experiences, or what’s important in your campus community.

Anticipate and address possible ethical and legal implications

• Your speakers should be ready and able to convey their experience and message in an effective way. There is always the possibility of unsupportive responses from the audience.
• All organizers should be aware of potential legal liabilities, confidentiality issues, and risk management issues. These can be effectively managed.
• Ask speakers not to share the names or identifying features of alleged perpetrators.
• Talk with your Title IX Coordinator in advance about what happens if a participant discloses an assault. Some faculty and staff are obligated in some circumstances to report possible incidents of sexual assault, and they may attend your event.
• Consider your policy on filming or recording the event. It’s not unreasonable to ask people to turn off their cell phones.
• Talk with your fellow organizers about possible media coverage. If it’s fellow students who are reporting for a campus publication, it might be easy to set up ground rules with them ahead of time.

+ For guidance, see the TBTN Planning Manual.

Link to other campaigns and events
TBTN or similar events can be a great opportunity to plan other educational events and promote relevant messages on your campus.

“My school was really big on normalizing sex in the first few weeks, so that we could have a very open policy on campus. It was nice to hear that no matter what your opinions are on having sex you were going to be accepted.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Sarah Lawrence College, New York

Set the mood through a cohesive itinerary

“The event featured an improv group. The way they did things by trying to keep the mood light helped me learn about sexual assault prevention better.”
—First-year undergraduate, Johnson & Wales University, Rhode Island

“It’s a serious topic but it doesn’t have to be a talked about in an angry manner. Don’t spout a cause, try to have a conversation.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Portland State University, Oregon

“I think the least effective [element of the event] was using fear messages, because it made people more inclined to look away.”
—Second-year graduate student, California State University, San Bernardino

“It would have been more effective if it focused less on shaming sex and more on open communication and understanding.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Mount Wachusett Community College, Massachusetts

+ Why consent is like a cup of tea

Think about gender

“I was there to learn and to support an effort to eliminate sexual assault of all types, but I left early because I felt unwelcome. Men are [also] victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse [and it is] under-reported because of the stigma. To engage a broader audience, it makes sense to avoid implying that only women get to have ‘ownership’ of this issue and that men are the ones to blame for all of it.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Missouri University of Science and Technology

“Quit pathologizing [people] who are assaulted and start pathologizing people who assault. Sometimes I feel like women are being preached to that they need to do things differently, versus changing the system that allows some people to continue victimizing others.”
—Second-year graduate student, Western Illinois University

Some TBTNs are known for powerful accounts of sexual assault shared by their participants. The last thing you want, however, is for participants to feel their stories have to fit a certain mold. Setting an inclusive tone will ensure that more people feel comfortable sharing their varied stories.

Key speakers
As you think about your goals, you may want to approach some people ahead of time to be speakers at the event. Seeking out varied stories from diverse people can be a subtle way to create a more welcoming space—a crucial element of a positive campus climate in which everyone feels empowered. Speakers’ themes could include:

• Difficult experiences: stories of intimate partner violence or abuse, nonconsensual sexual acts, childhood experiences, harassment, and so on
• Empowerment: how they got out of a bad relationship or survived a sexual assault
• Recovery: what activities, messages, and resources helped them feel like themselves

Diverse speakers and participants
Lots of different people have personal experience with sexual violence and want to end it. Survivors can be of any gender, sexual orientation, or age. Some may have been assaulted as children, others as adults. Ensure that your event includes and supports people who describe and address different kinds of experiences in different ways. Include men and transgender people.

Understand the power of stories
“Hearing survivors’ stories really made me want to be more involved in preventing sexual assault.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, University of West Georgia

“When they held the ‘rape is not a joke’ seminar they had students read their stories and tell their own stories. It worked. It was good! There was a shift in the audience, like people were starting to understand.”
—Fifth-year undergraduate, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

Think about gender
“The most effective message to me was a rally I went to when I was in community college before transferring. It mentioned how it’s not always woman who could be assaulted but can be a man as well. An actual guy came out to tell his story.”
—Fourth-year graduate student, Park University, Missouri

Include hopeful stories
“The guest speaker was a victim of domestic violence and hearing her story and that she is now helping other women escape their similar situations was very inspiring.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of New Mexico

“I was able to step in other people’s shoes for a moment and try to see sexual assault events not as simply a place to talk about a taboo topic and a super-bad thing, but also as a way for people to share the healing that came after.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, California State University, San Marcos

Make it easier to share
“It was effective to hear survivor stories in a safe space. We were sitting in auditorium seats with the lights very low. Anyone could start sharing their stories without feeling like everyone’s eyes were on them.”
—Third-year graduate student, University of Delaware

Personal stories are at the center of almost every TBTN or similar event. But they shouldn’t be the whole picture. Think of any good event that you’ve been to—even a talk about a serious subject. Was there food? Something to drink? Music? Did the event planners actively involve the audience? There’s no reason why your event shouldn’t have all these things. There are lots of models for successful events. It’s up to you and your fellow planners to figure out what’s right for your campus.

Some options include:

• A speak-out with music between every few speakers
• A march followed by snacks to encourage people to stay for conversation
• Conversation in a comfortable room where people can share their stories over hot chocolate
• Creative projects that address the themes in fresh or surprising ways (such as the Clothesline Project, which uses a display of clothing to push back on the myth that victims of sexual assault are responsible because of what they wear or say or do)
• Workshops or teach-ins on being an effective bystander or supporting a friend

Wrap up
And don’t forget about ending the event! Help your audience wind down and feel hopeful. This could be another opportunity to bring in music, especially something that everyone can participate in. In addition, ensure that people who may need support know where to get it.

Make it interactive
“Events where I was participating rather than just spectating were most effective at teaching me new ideas and concepts. I remember this one event in which everyone was put in groups and we all shared our own experiences, laughed, cried, and bonded. I felt that was one of the most powerful learning moments in my life.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, California State University, San Marcos

Promote actionable strategies 
“I think the most effective point I learned was how to be an effective bystander if I ever witnessed sexual assault. I feel it is useful because I will know what actions to take.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of California, Los Angeles

“Focus on behavior and actions that do not support the ideas that possible assaulters may have. Create an environment where it is obvious that rape and such are not acceptable, [where people] step up when that seems to be a problem. That was the most effective [message] because I had never heard of the argument for culture before. Usually such events are about specific actions and preventing yourself from being harmed.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Find different ways to say it
“I went to the Clothesline Project and I thought that the personal messages that each victim wrote on each shirt were very powerful. Their stories affected me and seemed so real and awful.”
—Second-year graduate student, University of North Dakota

Wind down and wrap up 
“The night would have been more effective if there was a debriefing after everyone shared their stories. Everyone who spoke was willing to be open and raw, so it is important to wrap up in a way that alleviated the heaviness. Take Back the Night should end in a way that is productive and hopeful of change.”
—Graduate student, University of Delaware

Provide resources for follow-up
“When I was in the Queer club the most positive thing was that we were able to understand and connect with one another through our life stories. [Downside:] It made you think to the point of more depression, and sometimes to the point that we should have a one-on-one talk.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Pasadena City College, California

A costume-making party
Instead of people feeling like they have to put together a costume at the last minute for Halloween or some other event, and feeling uncomfortable in another sexy toga, you and friends can pool money to make costumes together. Felt, feathers, and paper can make a Robin Hood, iPhone, or any other number of easy costumes that people can feel comfortable and empowered in. Search online for costume ideas.

Consensual pizzas
Have you ever heard hooking up or sex described as being like eating a pizza? People decide together what toppings they’d like. They eat as much of eat pizza as they want. The pizza metaphor is less competitive and aggressive than the old metaphor that sex is like baseball (second base, home run, etc.). To host a consensual pizza-making event, stock up on pizza fixings, get access to an oven, and invite people to talk about consent. They’ll come for the food and stay for the conversation.

+ Why sex is like pizza

Athletic performance and sexual performance
On many college campuses, small groups of athletes are getting together to talk frankly about sex and sports. How do athlete-students think about balancing relationships, their sports, and their academics? How can events reported in the mainstream media be used to help build a supportive campus community?

“The [sexual violence prevention event] that was probably most effective was targeting athletes, due to some of the behaviors seen in professional players. They pushed for men to step up and act like men…Additionally, they talked about everyone’s responsibility to intervene if they suspect or see sexual assault occurring.”
—Fourth-year undergraduate, Henderson State University, Arkansas

“I contacted a rape and sexual assault crisis center”

Student’s story
“I had an advocate available via phone any time I had to talk. She was the most understanding and caring lady in the world, and even came with me to court so I didn’t have to be alone. Women and men should know that they can speak up about sexual assault immediately and get in touch with sexual assault advocates. They might need help getting out of the situation and dealing with what already transpired. It needs to be talked about. Keeping it inside will eat you alive.”
—First-year undergraduate, Ridgewater College, Minnesota

What this is and how it works
Most cities have rape and sexual assault crisis centers that offer comprehensive services including counseling, STI testing, and legal advocacy and guidance. According to a 2006 study in Violence Against Women, survivors who worked with a victim advocate were more likely to have police reports taken and less likely to say they felt further victimized by the police. They received more medical services and reported less stress as a result of the legal and medical processes.

“I was supported by my college”

Student’s story
“I was at a party with friends and we got separated. This guy pinned me against a wall. He said he was going to have sex with me and didn’t care what I wanted. I had never been so scared. One of my friends forcefully removed the guy and took me home. A friend reported it to my Resident Advisor, who reported it to the school. The school reached out to me and offered help, and places I could go to on campus, such as the women’s center. Every university or community should have places and support groups for people who have experienced sexual assault.” —Graduate student, University of Massachusetts Amherst

How schools can help
Survivors can be helped by a timely and adequate response from their school administration. This might include course-load reduction, counseling, investigating a sexual assault, and moving the alleged perpetrator into different classes or accommodations.

“Some students find that school becomes more difficult after sexual assault, and make reductions to their course load, resetting their expectations for themselves,” says Carmen Hotvedt, assistant director for violence prevention at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “For others, their academics give them something to focus on.”

“I confided in supportive friends”

Student’s story
“I’m very close to my older brother, and he was on call for me 24/7. That’s one major way that people can provide support: being available, even if only over the phone. A lot of the fallout from abuse is when you’re lying awake in the night and you don’t want to be a pain and call someone. So he was very helpful, just having someone say, ‘I believe you, tell me what’s happening, what do you need right now?’ People can be supportive in different ways, and survivors need all of that support.”
—Former undergraduate, University of Massachusetts Amherst

How it helps
It’s important to spend time with friends and others who validate your feelings, don’t judge you, and make you aware of your strengths. Supportive reactions from family, friends, and counselors help survivors recover, according to a 2006 study of 500-plus female college students in the Journal of Traumatic Stress. Negative reactions from friends and family are related to higher levels of post-traumatic stress.

“I drew on religious and spiritual support”

Student’s story
“I was raised a Christian, and I had a great pastor. The things he taught me about forgiveness and the power of prayer were a tremendous blessing, something I was able to fall back on when I experienced the trauma of rape. I realized if you don’t forgive, it’s like that knife of pain they put into you. You’re just digging it around in your belly, saying, ‘This is what happened to me; look how they hurt me! Look how sharp this knife is!’ Forgiveness is the act of pulling that knife out and dropping it. It hurts, but it’s not because they deserve to be forgiven. It’s because you deserve to walk free of it. Go to God in prayer. By praying for good things for that person, you create new emotions within your own heart that will heal the pain they left you in. It doesn’t make it right, what they did to you. Nothing makes it right. But forgiveness is the only way to take that knife out.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Pacific Lutheran University, Washington

How religion can help
Among survivors, positive religious coping—drawing on religion as a source of strength, meaning, and healing, rather than blame or punishment—is linked to greater emotional well-being, including lower levels of depression, according to a 2010 study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

“I got involved in sexual assault prevention advocacy”

Former student’s story
“Speaking about one’s own experience, whether privately to friends, family, and counselors, or publicly to groups at Take Back the Night marches, when the survivor feels ready, can be very therapeutic. Going public about my assault has made a huge difference. It’s been cathartic, turning a negative thing into action. You weren’t able to stop what happened to you, but you can help others. I’ve been down this road and can help explain it.”
—Dr. Laura Gray-Rosendale, author of College Girl: A Memoir (Excelsior Editions/SUNY, 2013), survivor of sexual assault, and professor of English at Northern Arizona University

Student advocacy organizations: Who they are and what they do
Many organizations that work to end sexual violence are staffed by sexual assault survivors. Student-oriented organizations such as Know Your IX, End Rape on Campus, and It’s On Us work to empower survivors and educate the public on the nature and impact of sexual assault.

They offer survivors:

• Support and understanding
• The opportunity to help others
• Education on, and insight into, sexual assault
• The opportunity to develop advocacy and related skills (e.g., in leadership, communication, and community or media outreach)

Male survivors

• One in 33 men experiences an attempted or completed rape in his lifetime, and 1 in 6 has been raped or sexually abused by age 18, according to the Department of Justice (2000).
• Male survivors are likely to encounter the societal myths that men should be able to protect themselves and that male sexual arousal indicates willingness. These misconceptions can increase feelings of isolation and shame and may cause some to question their sexuality. This can contribute to self-destructive behaviors, such as substance abuse and social withdrawal.

LGBTQ survivors

• 44 percent of lesbian women and 26 percent of gay men experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Almost two out of three transgender respondents say they have been sexually assaulted, according to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (2011).
• Gay and transgender survivors may feel that the assault occurred because of their sexual and/or gender identity (this is sometimes true). Concerns about being shamed, blamed, and discriminated against by police, medical workers, and/or the community are barriers to reporting sexual assault.

For a variety of reasons, some survivors of sexual assault may turn to coping strategies that prove less helpful in the long run. “Some students develop strategies for survival that may appear to be counter-intuitive to the healing process, such as hyper-sexuality, self-medicating, self-harm, safety hyper-vigilance, and/or isolation,” says Carmen Hotvedt, assistant director for violence prevention at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “These are common reactions to trauma. Although it may be frustrating for peers, family members, or student affairs staff to understand, these behaviors may be part of someone’s healing path until they move on to other choices.”

Potentially unhealthy coping strategies can include:

• Avoidance and denial
• Social isolation
• Risky behaviors, e.g., substance misuse and unsafe sex

Avoidance and social withdrawal

Avoidance coping involves distancing yourself from trauma as a way to avoid feeling overwhelmed. After a sexual assault, some decide to stay silent for reasons related to fear and perceived safety, blame and shame, or a desire to move on quickly. Sometimes, denial can help survivors maintain other aspects of their lives. However, avoidance may bring increased stress later.

“Pretending that it hasn’t happened or ignoring it can be one of the worst things a survivor can do,” says Dr. Gray-Rosendale, author of College Girl: A Memoir. “This could not only result in the perpetrator going free, but also time and attention is needed to process and heal from what has happened.”

Some survivors withdraw socially. This is understandable, but may deny them the support of friends, family, and others who can potentially help.

Student’s story
“I felt responsible, so I didn’t want to share. I thought everyone would judge me and I would be alone, so I kind of made myself alone for a bit.” (College withheld)

Risky sexual activity and substance use

Risky behaviors include:

• Earlier initiation of sexual activity
• A greater number of sexual partners
• Not using a condom
• Unwanted pregnancies
• Alcohol and substance abuse

Survivors may feel the need to use substances or other physical sensations, such as sexual activity, to distance themselves from the memory of the assault or regain a sense of empowerment and control, according to the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault.

Deciding whether or not to report

Seeking justice through the legal system does not erase an assault or its effects, yet for some survivors the process is important to their recovery. Reporting an attack may help protect others. Reporting an assault can have downsides. A victim advocate at a sexual assault crisis center or helpline can talk you through the pros and cons. Before disclosing an assault to any professional, on- or off-campus, ask them about confidentiality.

Survivor's Story
Former student’s story
“My parents helped me talk to an attorney, and I filed a civil lawsuit. I have not received any financial settlement, but what mattered was that my voice was heard. I felt enormously empowered, like I had reclaimed my inner strength. I no longer felt like an empty shell with my insides scooped out. It helped me to stop seeing myself as a victim. It also helped me publicize a terrible wrong that had been committed against me. By visibly pointing at my perpetrator and the people who protected him, I forced them out of the shadows and into the glare of the legal system and public opinion. I don’t think I could have recovered without taking action. Had I listened to my fear, I would always see myself as someone who was trampled on and could not get back up because she was too broken.”
—Former undergraduate, University of California in Irvine

Counselors are trained to listen without expressing judgment. Many have helped others through similar situations. Additionally, counselors can help you to:

• Sort through your emotions in a supportive environment
• Make decisions about reporting, legal options, and recovery
• Develop healthy coping strategies
• Minimize self-blame, guilt, and depression
• Continue your college education

“The most helpful thing I can say to someone who has experienced something traumatic is that their only job is to take care of themselves, do what they need to survive, and know that they are a valuable and loved person,” says Carmen Hotvedt, assistant director for violence prevention at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Self-care and creativity can involve:

• Healthful eating
• A sleep schedule that’s as normal and regular as possible
• Avoiding stimulants and depressants, e.g., caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and other drugs
• Mindfulness meditation
• Avoiding stressors to the extent possible
• Relaxing activities, e.g., reading, journaling, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and music
• Creative activities, e.g., music, writing, dance, and art
• Physical activity, which can reduce stress and help you feel more in control of your body

Find help on or near your campus
Not Alone
https://www.notalone.gov

National Sexual Assault Hotline
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
800-656-HOPE (4673)

Live online 24/7 support
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
https://ohl.rainn.org/online/

Crisis intervention 24/7 for LGBTQ youth
The Trevor Project
Helpline: 1-866-488-7386
TrevorText: 202-304-1200 (free)
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/programs-services

Survivors’ rights and legal information
End Rape on Campus
https://endrapeoncampus.org/

Survivors’ online community
After Silence
https://www.aftersilence.org

Support for survivors of military sexual assault
Department of Defense
Helpline: 877-995-5247
https://www.safehelpline.org

Support around teen dating abuse
Love Is Respect
Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
Text: “loveis” to 22522
www.loveisrespect.org

Guide for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Colorado State University
https://www.wgac.colostate.edu/Data/Sites/1/guide-for-male-survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse.pdf

In the residence hall and the rape closet

“I bet I can make you love men”

“He laughed. ‘You’re too pretty to be a lesbian! Have you ever had sex with a guy?’

“I said I hadn’t had my first experience with either gender. He replied, ‘If you haven’t slept with a guy, you have no idea whether or not you like it; I bet I could make you love men.’ He grabbed me by my hair. I was kissed and touched with force and without consent. He kept telling me to stop fighting it, learn to enjoy it, and not to be a prude.

“I felt so empty. I felt like a part of me had been taken away with him and that I had been made dirty. I have come to terms that this was an act of violence and had nothing to do with who I am. People need to know that [by speaking up] they can prevent other people from getting hurt too.”
—Second-year undergraduate, Utah State University, Logan

“It’s true what they say: You freeze”

“It’s true what they say: You freeze when it happens. When you see stories like this and it hasn’t happened to you, you know you’d yell for help, you’d push him/her away in disgust. But it never happens that way.

“I was in an art gallery and he just started talking to me. He was nice and had a soft voice. We talked about God. We walked around the gallery together; ‘Come on, let me show you something.’ We’d pause in front of pieces of art for some time in silence. That’s the only part of the story I can bring myself to talk about.

“It’s true what they say: You blame yourself. Before, he looked down at my legs and asked, ‘Aren’t you cold?’ But he was smiling. I should’ve known.

“I feel strange when men touch me, even by accident. I feel hot inside and I just want to curl up. It has affected me to this day. And it wasn’t even that bad compared to other stories. It wasn’t rape. Other women are much stronger than me.”
—First-year undergraduate, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

“My friends would say guys can’t get raped”: Frat party, friends, and foster care

“My girlfriend trusts me less after I told her”
“At the end of the academic year, I became homeless, simply because my off-campus leases ended/started one week apart. Twice in that week I felt very pressured to perform sex acts with female friends who let me sleep over. I felt diminished by both events.

“I’ve been completely honest with my new partner, and she has judged me, held me responsible because I’m the man in the situation. She trusts me less because I was honest with her. She is also a victim, and it hurts a lot that she can’t seem to understand my side.”
—Undergraduate, New York

“My friends would say guys can’t get raped”
“We were dancing and kissing at a frat party. Without asking, she reached down my pants and tried to give me a hand job, and made motions toward having sex there and then. I was uncomfortable doing it in front of people in a crowded basement. She was very drunk and ended up causing more pain than pleasure.

“I wasn’t sure what to do. It’s a rare situation where a guy stops a girl from initiating sexual contact. Her friends dragged her away, probably thinking I was trying to take advantage. I haven’t spoken to her since. I haven’t mentioned it to anybody. I feel my male friends would wonder why I am not happy about it, and my female friends would tell me that guys can’t get raped.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

“I was assaulted by my caregiver”
“I was sexually assaulted by the caregiver when I was in a foster home. Her husband (a truck driver) was gone, and she took advantage of me. I was 13 years old at the time and unsure of what was going on. I tried to report it to DHS and was told it was all a fantasy. I became very reserved toward everyone, became a loner for many years. I didn’t trust anyone for a long time.”
—Undergraduate, Iowa

Clicking, grabbing, homophobia, and stalking: The continuum of sexual violence

Homophobia at the mall
“I’ve been in a relationship with my boyfriend for three years, and am proud and happy to hold his hand in public. One time when we were at the mall, a group of about 10 men followed us. They said, ‘Yo, my boy needs some lovin,’ and ‘You gaga don’t belong here.’ I do not believe in confrontation, but the moment we got into the car I cried my eyes out. I could not believe grown men could treat us like that. They have no idea what we are like, where we come from, etc. For them to demean us in such a way is inexcusable. But I am stronger than those men. I use that incident to allow me to be strong and always smile at the haters. I am happy where I am, and they will not bring me down.”
—Third-year undergraduate, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey

“People think the assault made me asexual”
“I was studying abroad. I was walking under a bridge in daylight, with people around, when the man who had been sleeping there grabbed my chest. I have dysphoria [emotional discomfort] about my chest, and being forcibly reminded that I am not flat at the same time as being assaulted was a really bad combination. I spent a while crying. It was a good month before I was able to go back under the bridge.

“The school had already tried to have me sent home because of my autism. I realized that presenting them with an actual safety issue was an involuntary ticket home, so I didn’t report it. Now that I am home, my dysphoria is a lot worse than before. My asexuality helps me avoid some possible triggers, since there’s not going to be any consensual sexual acts and flashbacks. But people assume the asexuality is because of the assault, when actually I was asexual before.

“Even if your story fits none of the dominant narratives, what happened is still real, can still be traumatizing, and it’s OK to need support dealing with it, whatever support looks like for you.”
—First-year graduate student, University of Rhode Island, Kingston

“One click can really hurt”
“My information was pulled from Facebook and Snapchat and manipulated to be posted on websites that contained adult sexual content. I was confused: I was receiving calls and messages from people on those sites. I tried going to the police and university staff. Now, I always tell people to be wary of things they post. If I see cases like that, I try to make my friends understand how one action, click, or hurtful message can really harm someone else.”
—Third-year undergraduate, University of California, Irvine

Find local services and other resources: NotAlone.gov

Resources from student activist survivors: Know Your IX

Info and resources on campus safety: Clery Center for Security on Campus

Sexual violence resources: Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)

Sexual violence resources: National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Lisak, D. (2011). Understanding the predatory nature of sexual violence. Sexual Assault Report, 14, 49-50, 55-57.

• This 2011 review by psychologist David Lisak outlines the characteristics of “undetected rapists,” including college perpetrators.
• “When compared to men who do not rape, these undetected rapists are measurably more angry at women, more motivated by the need to dominate and control women, more impulsive and disinhibited in their behavior, more hyper-masculine in their beliefs and attitudes, less empathic and more antisocial.”

Forbes, G.B., Adams-Curtis, L.E., White, K.B. (2004). First- and second-generation measures of sexism, rape myths and related beliefs, and hostility toward women: Their interrelationships and association with college students’ experiences with dating aggression and sexual coercion. Violence Against Women, 10(3), 236-261.

• This 2004 study explores how sexist attitudes and rape-supporting beliefs relate to relationship aggression and sexual coercion.
• Sexism and rape-supporting beliefs were related to each other and to aggressive and sexually coercive behaviors.
• Hostility to women was a more powerful factor than were sexist attitudes and belief in rape myths.

Forbes, G.B., Adams-Curtis, L.E., White, K.B. (2004). First- and second-generation measures of sexism, rape myths and related beliefs, and hostility toward women: Their interrelationships and association with college students’ experiences with dating aggression and sexual coercion. Violence Against Women, 10(3), 236-261.

• This 2004 study explores how sexist attitudes and rape-supporting beliefs relate to relationship aggression and sexual coercion.
• Sexism and rape-supporting beliefs were related to each other and to aggressive and sexually coercive behaviors.
• Hostility to women was a more powerful factor than were sexist attitudes and belief in rape myths.

What’s a rape myth?

Rape myths are attitudes and beliefs that seek to justify sexual assault by suggesting survivors invited it.

People who accept rape myths are more likely to commit nonconsensual sex acts and are less likely to intervene to help prevent them, studies show.

Men, fraternity and sorority members, and male athletes are more likely than others to accept rape myths.

In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, repeat perpetrators expressed victim-blaming attitudes and beliefs.

Lisak, D., & Ivan, C. (1995). Deficits in intimacy and empathy in sexually aggressive men. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10, 296-308.

• Two studies tested the hypothesis that sexually aggressive men present as more stereotypically “male,” with a lower capacity for empathy and intimacy.
• Compared to their male peers, sexually aggressive men rated themselves as less feminine, manifested a reduced need for intimacy and a lower capacity for empathy, and more strongly endorsed rape myths.
• These findings support the conceptualization of male sexual aggression as a consequence of male gender socialization. Hypergendered males are considered to suppress “feminine” emotions and exhibit more anger.

O’Donohue, W., McKay, J. S., & Schewe, P. A. (1996). Rape: The roles of outcome expectancies and hypermasculinity. Sex Abuse, 8, 133-141.

• This 1996 study examined coercive sexual behavior in male undergraduates as it relates to hypermasculinity.
• Men who hadn’t been held accountable for sexual aggression reported more ongoing sexual coercion of others than the men who had been held accountable.
• These men had a greater likelihood of raping in the future.
• Subjects with this profile were more likely than average to exhibit stereotypically “male” attitudes and behaviors, such as toughness, daring, virility, and violence.

Prentky, R. A., Knight, R. A., Lee, A. F. S., & Cerce, D. D. (1995). Predictive validity of lifestyle impulsivity for rapists. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 22(2), 106-128.

• In this 1995 study, 109 violent offenders were observed over a 25-year period.
• Researchers studied lifestyle impulsivity as a factor for reoffending rapists.
• The high-impulsivity offenders were twice as likely to commit repeat offenses as were the low-impulsivity offenders.

Abbey A., & McAuslan P. (2004). A longitudinal examination of college men’s perpetration of sexual assault. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 747-756.

• This 2004 study analyzed the self-reports of 197 college men in two surveys a year apart.
• 14 percent of the sample self-reported having perpetrated a sexual assault within the previous year.
• Repeat perpetrators expressed significantly less remorse than did past perpetrators who had not repeated the offense.
• One repeat assaulter believed that the first woman he assaulted “was just being hard to get” and called his second assault “just another night.” Another repeat assaulter claimed that “most women say ‘no’ at first most times. A man has to persist to determine if she really means it.”

Shapiro, J. (2010, March). Myths that make it hard to stop campus rape. National Public Radio.

• According to psychologist David Lisak’s 2002 study, 1 in 16 college males (6 percent) had committed sexual assault, but had never been charged or convicted.
• Male college perpetrators targeted the most vulnerable women.
• Their weapon was alcohol.
• These perpetrators sought out women who were younger and new to college, relatively inexperienced with alcohol, and eager to fit in.

Shapiro, J. (2010, March). Myths that make it hard to stop campus rape. National Public Radio.

• According to psychologist David Lisak’s 2002 study, 1 in 16 college males (6 percent) had committed sexual assault, but had never been charged or convicted.
• Male college perpetrators targeted the most vulnerable women.
• Instead of guns or knives, these perpetrators used alcohol as a weapon.
• Male college perpetrators tried to get their victim(s) as intoxicated as possible.

Abbey, A., Clinton-Sherrod, M., McAuslan, P., Zawacki, T., & Buck, P. O. (2003). The relationship between the quantity of alcohol consumed and the severity of sexual assaults committed by college men. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(7), 813-833.

• This 2003 study examined whether alcohol use contributed to the severity of sexual assaults.
• Data were collected from 113 college men who reported that they had committed a sexual assault since the age of 14.
• The amount of alcohol that perpetrators consumed during an assault was related to how much aggression they used and to the type of sexual assault committed.
• Increased alcohol consumption was related to increased aggression, though at high levels of intoxication perpetrators were less likely to complete a rape.
• Heavy drinking is a likely risk factor for perpetrating sexual assault among college men.

Lisak, D., & Miller, P.M. (2002). Repeat rape and multiple offending among undetected rapists. Violence and Victims, 17(1).

• This 2002 study involved 1,900 male university students, mean age 26.
• 120 men self-reported acts that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape. They were never prosecuted.
• Most of the 120 were repeat rapists. The repeat rapists averaged six rapes each.
• Most of the 120 had committed other acts of violence, such as battery or child abuse.
• These profiles mirrored those of incarcerated sex offenders.

White, J.W. & Smith, P.H. (2004). Sexual assault perpetration and reperpetration: From adolescence to young adulthood. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 31, 182-202.

• Three incoming freshmen classes of men provided data in this 5-year longitudinal study.
• Men who perpetrated in high school were at greater risk for sexual perpetration in college.

Lisak, D., & Miller, P.M. (2002). Repeat rape and multiple offending among undetected rapists. Violence and Victims, 17(1).

• This 2002 study involved 1,900 male university students, mean age 26.
• 120 men self-reported acts that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape but were never prosecuted.
• Most of the 120 were repeat rapists. The repeat rapists averaged six rapes each.
• Most of the 120 had committed other acts of violence, such as battery or child abuse.
• These profiles mirrored those of incarcerated sex offenders.

Gidycz, C.A., Orchowski, L.M. & Berkowitz, A.D. (2011). Preventing sexual aggression among college men: An evaluation of a social norms and bystander intervention program. Violence Against Women, 17(6), 720-742

• This study evaluated the effects of a sexual assault prevention program on 635 men living in first-year dormitories.
• The program incorporated social norms and bystander intervention education.
• The men self-reported reduced sexual aggression and an increased expectation of peer intervention to limit inappropriate behavior.
• The men also reported less reinforcement for engaging in sexually aggressive behavior, fewer associations with sexually aggressive peers, and reduced exposure to sexually explicit media.

Mohler-Kuo, M., Dowdall, G. W., Koss, M. P., & Wechsler, H. (2004). Correlates of rape while intoxicated in a national sample of college women. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 65(1), 37-45.

• This 2004 study analyzed data from 119 schools, involving approx. 8,500 women (1997 survey), 8,400 women (1999 survey), and 7,000 women (2001 survey).
• One in 20 women (5 percent) reported being raped in college.
• Rape is more common on college campuses that have higher rates of binge drinking.

Bannon, R. S., Brosi, M. W., & Foubert, J. D. (2013). Sorority women’s and fraternity men’s rape myth acceptance and bystander intervention attitudes. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 50(1), 72-87.

• This 2013 study examined Greek members’ attitudes and beliefs relating to rape.
• Compared to other students, fraternity men were more likely to be perpetrators of sexual assault and sorority women were more likely to be survivors.
• Fraternity men are particularly prone to false beliefs about rape, rape survivors, and rapists.
• Compared to fraternity men, sorority women were more rejecting of rape myths and were more willing to intervene to prevent a sexual assault.
• There was no difference in bystander effectiveness between sorority women and fraternity men.

McMahon, S. (2007). Understanding community-specific rape myths: Exploring student athlete culture. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 22(4), 357-370.

• This 2007 study explored the college athlete subculture around rape myths.
• Data included a survey of 205 male and female student athletes, nine focus groups, and 22 individual interviews.
• Although most surveyed athletes said they didn’t accept rape myths, the focus groups and individual interviews found persistent views, including:
  • Misunderstandings around what constitutes consent
  • Belief in “accidental” and fabricated rape
  • Belief that women provoke rape
  • Belief that female athletes are less likely to be raped than other women.

1 in 5 undergraduate women say they have experienced attempted or completed sexual assault at college, according to a 2009 study in the Journal of American College Health.

1 in 20 college women are sexually assaulted each academic year, says the US Department of Justice.

Among college women subjected to nonconsensual sexual intercourse or other sexual assaults, 9 out of 10 know their attacker, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2000).

Less than 5 percent of acts of nonconsensual sexual intercourse (completed or attempted) are reported to law enforcement, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2000). In two-thirds of cases, however, the survivor tells a friend or someone else.

Why are so few college sex crimes reported?

The reasons vary depending on campus policies. According to the US Department of Justice, common barriers include:

• The risk of consequences relating to drug and alcohol policies.
• A requirement to participate in adjudication.
• Perceived victim-blaming on the part of college administrators or officials.
• A trauma response in survivors, including shame and self-blame.
• The anticipated stigma around victimization.

The terminology in this infographic reflects evidence that students relate more easily to “nonconsensual sexual intercourse” and “nonconsensual sexual contact” than to “rape” and “sexual assault.”

Not all perpetrators fit the description in the infographic.

Individuals who fit the description are not necessarily perpetrators.

Most evidence indicates women are far more likely to be sexually assaulted than men. Eighteen percent of women, and 3 percent of men, experience a rape or attempted rape in their lifetime, according to the US Department of Justice and the CDC.

In a 2012 survey, however, 38 percent of people who said they’d been sexually victimized (including childhood abuse) were men, according to the US Department of Justice.

Studies suggest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people experience rates of sexual violence equal to or higher than the general population.

Most evidence suggests that an overwhelming proportion of perpetrators are male. For example, nearly 99 percent of offenders in single-victim sex crimes in the mid-1990s were male, according to the US Department of Justice. Research suggests a small proportion of college men commit an overwhelming proportion of campus sexual assaults. College men who admitted to actions that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape held views on women, violence, and sex that matched those of convicted rapists, according to David Lisak, a clinical psychologist who has conducted extensive research on undetected sex offenders.

The risk factors for perpetration include individual, relationship, community, and societal characteristics, according to the CDC. A list of risk factors.

Gross, A. M., Winslett, A., Roberts, M., & Gohm, C.L. (2006). An examination of sexual violence against college women. Violence Against Women, 12(3), 288-300.

• This 2006 study examined sexual violence against college women.
• Women who were 1st and 2nd year students had a higher risk of being sexual assaulted than 3rd and 4th year women.
• The vast majority of women (84 percent) who reported sexual coercion experienced the incident(s) during their first four semesters on campus.

Fischer, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). Sexual victimization of college women. National Institute of Justice.

• This National College Women Sexual Victimization (NCWSV) study involved approx. 4,450 women in college in the fall of 1996.
• The incident rate per 1,000 female students ranged from 9.5 to 66.4.
• 9 out of 10 victims knew their attacker. He was most commonly a boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, classmate, friend, acquaintance, or coworker.
• Most incidents occurred in living quarters.

Bannon, R. S., Brosi, M. W., & Foubert, J. D. (2013). Sorority women’s and fraternity men’s rape myth acceptance and bystander intervention attitudes. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 50(1), 72-87.

• This 2013 study examined Greek members’ attitudes and beliefs around rape.
• Compared to other students, fraternity men were more likely to be perpetrators of sexual assault and sorority women were more likely to be victims.
• Compared to fraternity men, sorority women were more rejecting of rape myths and were more willing to intervene to prevent a sexual assault.
• There was no difference in bystander effectiveness between sorority women and fraternity men.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). NISVS: An overview of 2010 findings on victimization by sexual orientation. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. [Summary of findings.]

• Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people experience equal or higher rates of nonconsensual sexual contact than the general population does.

Duncan, D. (1990). Prevalence of sexual assault victimization among heterosexual and gay/lesbian university students. Psychological Reports, 66(1), 65-66. Not available online

• In this 1990 study, 42 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual university students reported they had been forced to have sex against their will, compared to 21 percent of heterosexual students.

Krebs, C. P., Lindquist, C. H., Warner, T. D., Fisher, B. S., & Martin, S. L. (2007). The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study: Final report. National Criminal Justice Reference Service.

• Most sexual assaults of college women took place off-campus.
• Sexual assaults, both on and off campus, occurred mostly in a person’s living quarters.

Fischer, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G. (2000). The sexual victimization of college women. National Institute of Justice.

• This National College Women Sexual Victimization (NCWSV) study involved approx. 4,450 women in college, fall 1996.
• The incident rate per 1,000 female students ranged from 9.5 to 66.4.
• Most victims knew their attacker.
• Most incidents occurred in living quarters.

Krebs, C.P., Lindquist, C.H., Warner, T.D., Fisher, B.S., & Martin, S.L. (2007). The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study: Final Report. National Criminal Justice Reference Service.

• Many sexual assaults (incapacitated and forced) occurred at parties.
• Most incapacitated sexual assaults occurred at parties.
• Most sexual assaults of college women took place off-campus.
• Sexual assaults, both on and off campus, occurred mostly in a person’s living quarters.

Empowering students on sexual assault: Know Your IX

Not Alone: US government

Campus resources: National Sexual Violence Resource Center

StepUp Program: The University of Arizona

Bystander Intervention campaigns & programs: National Sexual Violence Resource Center

50 Smartphone apps for college students: Rasmussen College, Illinois

Know Your Power: University of New Hampshire

Where Do You Stand?: Men Can Stop Rape

Not Alone: US government

National hotlines and local counseling: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network